Punjab unveils Pakistan’s first air quality forecast system

The Punjab government has introduced Pakistan’s first Air Quality Forecast System, aimed at improving pollution management and providing citizens with timely updates on weather and air quality.

The system, launched in Lahore, will issue weekly public reports forecasting both weather patterns and pollution levels for major cities, including Lahore and Faisalabad. Officials said it will also issue health protection advisories, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and patients with respiratory illnesses.

Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, who inaugurated the project, said the system combines real-time monitoring with advanced scientific models and integrates with international platforms such as Windy and European forecast models. “It will function in line with global air quality indices while also addressing local requirements,” she said.

According to officials, data will be drawn from Punjab’s air quality monitoring stations, with 41 currently in operation and plans to expand to 100 in the coming months. The initiative forms part of the provincial Smog Control Plan, which includes measures against crop residue burning, reducing vehicular and industrial emissions, and enforcing environmental regulations.

Aurangzeb said the system would provide a scientific basis for policymaking and urged public cooperation in tackling pollution. She warned that smog poses serious health risks and advised precautionary measures during episodes of poor air quality.