Karachi is experiencing an intensifying cold wave, with the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasting strong, intermittent winds across the city in the coming hours. The minimum temperature was recorded at 10.5°C, and the Met Office predicts that the weather will remain cold and dry over the next 24 hours.
Humidity levels in Karachi are currently at 65%, and with northeast winds blowing at 20 km/h, the minimum temperature is expected to range between 9°C and 11°C. These conditions are likely to contribute to the ongoing chilly atmosphere, keeping residents bundled up through the night and into the day.
In addition to the drop in temperatures, Karachi has also been grappling with severe air pollution. On Monday, the city was ranked as the third most polluted in the world, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 234, a level classified as “very unhealthy” by Swiss air quality monitor IQAir. The concentration of toxic PM2.5 particles—fine pollutants small enough to enter the bloodstream—was measured at 159 µg/m³, a staggering 31.8 times higher than the World Health Organization’s safe limits.
The city’s worsening air quality is often exacerbated during winter months, as lower temperatures trap dust and pollutants close to the ground, creating smog. Karachi has repeatedly recorded some of the highest pollution levels globally in recent months, and it’s not alone in this issue. Lahore, Pakistan’s capital, also continues to struggle with poor air quality, with an AQI of 162 recorded today, which is considered “unhealthy.”
Residents of both cities are urged to take precautions to protect themselves from the harmful effects of pollution as the cold weather and air quality issues persist.
