Artificial rain used to combat air pollution in Pakistan's Lahore city

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – Artificial rain was used to mitigate rising smog in Pakistan's northeastern city of Lahore, which frequently tops the list of most polluted cities in the world, an official said on Saturday.

In the first experience of its kind to combat hazardous levels of air pollution, planes equipped with cloud seeding equipment were flown over 10 areas of the city.

A thick pall of toxic air began to engulf cities like Lahore, Karachi and New Delhi in early November, which regularly top the list of metropolises with the worst air quality.

The problem is getting worse with every passing year, especially in northeastern Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, compelling the government to shut down businesses, commercial activities, schools, and even highways.

A report by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute published in August warned that increasing air pollution could cut the life expectancy of residents of Lahore, Peshawar, Kasur, and Sheikhupura districts by at least seven years.

- 'Gift' from UAE

Mohsin Raza Naqvi, caretaker chief minister of Punjab, of which Lahore is the capital, said the “gift” was provided by the United Arab Emirates, referring to artificial rain.

"Celebrating a groundbreaking moment in Lahore – the first-ever artificial rainfall to combat smog! Heartfelt thanks to the UAE government for their support, making our environment a priority without straining the provincial exchequer,” he said in a post on X.

The UAE sent a team with two planes to carry out the experiment, which involves releasing common salt – or a mixture of different salts – into clouds.

Some 48 flares were used to create the rain, according to Naqvi.

“We hope that the air quality index will improve due to artificial rainfall. After mastering the process of artificial rainfall, we will share it with other provinces as well,” he said.

The UAE has increasingly used artificial rain or blue-skying to create rain in the arid expanse of the country.

The weather modification procedure has been deployed in dozens of countries – including the US, China and India – in an attempt to combat air pollution.