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Rain and drizzle swept across various parts of Punjab and Balochistan early Saturday morning, bringing relief to the region and improving air quality. The showers not only cooled the weather but also ended a prolonged dry spell.
In Punjab, drizzle was reported in multiple areas of Lahore, including Township, Johar Town, and Canal Road. Other cities in the province, such as Kharian, Multan, and Sahiwal, also experienced rainfall.
Meanwhile, in Shikarpur, intermittent thundershowers led to the flooding of low-lying areas. The heavy rain caused power outages as feeders tripped, leaving several localities without electricity. Rain was also reported in various towns across Sindh.
Earlier, on Friday, different regions in the north and west of the country received rain after a weather system moved in from Afghanistan. Balochistan witnessed hailstorms and heavy rainfall in cities like Quetta, Chaman, Kalat, Qila Abdullah, and Chaghai.
Despite the rain improving air quality, Lahore’s air quality index (AQI) remained dangerously high. On Saturday, Lahore ranked as the second most polluted city in the world with an AQI of 298, following New Delhi, India, where the AQI was recorded at 461. Areas near Lahore, such as Raiwind, saw an AQI level of 676, while Johar Town, Ghazi Road Interchange, and MM Alam Road had AQI levels of 368, 291, and 287, respectively.
The Pakistan Meteorological Department predicted that Lahore’s temperature would rise to 22°C during the day, with a minimum temperature of 13°C. The air humidity was recorded at 74%, and a light breeze blew at a speed of 6 km/h.
In contrast, Multan saw a decrease in pollution levels, with an AQI of 400, making it the fourth most polluted city in Pakistan. The city’s humidity was recorded at 85%, and the maximum temperature was expected to rise to 25°C.
