LAHORE, Pakistan — In a bold new move to tackle severe winter air pollution, Pakistani authorities have deployed anti-smog guns in the eastern city of Lahore for the first time this year, officials confirmed on Thursday.
According to Sajid Bashir, spokesperson for the Punjab Environment Protection Agency (EPA), more than a dozen truck-mounted devices are now spraying fine water mist to trap dust and airborne particles across the city.
“We hope the use of anti-smog guns will help reduce air pollution,” Bashir said, warning that cross-border winds could worsen the smog in coming days.
Lahore Faces Annual Air Quality Crisis
Once known as the “City of Gardens” for its Mughal-era beauty, Lahore has now become infamous for its toxic gray skies every winter.
Pollution sources include vehicle emissions, industrial smoke, construction dust, and crop residue burning by farmers.
Each winter, smog blankets the city, forcing schools to close and keeping millions indoors.
Technology-Based Efforts to Clear the Air
The Punjab government rolled out 15 anti-smog guns across major zones as part of its winter pollution control initiative.
These machines spray microscopic water droplets into the air to reduce particulate matter, helping settle harmful pollutants.
Last year, authorities experimented with artificial rainfall to combat smog, but the results were limited. The new anti-smog gun initiative is seen as a more practical and immediate solution.
A City Losing Its Green Identity
Rapid urban expansion and population growth have stripped Lahore of much of its greenery, intensifying pollution levels.
Environmentalists warn that without sustainable urban planning and strict enforcement of emission laws, such measures may only offer temporary relief.
