Cloud seeding was used for the first time in Pakistan to combat hazardous levels of pollution in the city of Lahore, which has been ranked as one of the worst places globally for air pollution. The artificial rain was organized by the provincial government of Punjab and involved planes equipped with cloud-seeding equipment. The United Arab Emirates provided the “gift” of cloud seeding to Pakistan, using 48 flares to create the rain. The government is closely monitoring the impact of the artificial rain on the air quality in a radius of 15km.
Lahore has faced particularly bad air quality in recent weeks, prompting the closure of businesses and schools in an effort to improve conditions. The toxic smog in the city has been attributed to a combination of factors including low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from crop burning, and cold winter temperatures. The hazardous levels of pollution have had severe health consequences, including triggering strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases.
The use of cloud seeding has been praised by experts as even modest rain can effectively bring down pollution levels. Plans are in place for more instances of artificial rain in Lahore, along with the installation of smog towers, which are large-scale air purifiers designed to capture pollution. The growing industrialization in South Asia has contributed to the increase in pollutants, particularly in densely populated areas. The problem becomes more severe in cooler months when temperature inversion traps pollutants closer to the ground.
The use of cloud seeding in Lahore is part of a larger effort to combat air pollution, which has been flagged as a growing burden on health in South Asia. Pakistan, while responsible for less than 1 percent of global carbon emissions, is among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable nations. The artificial rain and other measures taken by the government are aimed at addressing the severe air pollution problem in Lahore and improving the city’s air quality.
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