Cold Wave Hits Pakistan, Lahore Topps in World's Most Polluted City
Punjab's largest city, Lahore, has taken the top spot in the world's most polluted city rankings with an alarming smog level of 277, amidst a bitter cold wave that has gripped the country.
The weather is expected to remain cold and dry across the country, with the wind speed recorded at 2 kilometers per hour in Lahore. In Islamabad, the temperature has plummeted to an unprecedented minus one degree Celsius, making it the coldest record for the season. Other areas including Leh, Skardu, and Gopas have recorded minus 13, minus 7, and minus 7 degrees Celsius, respectively.
Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been most heavily affected by the cold wave, with Shigar Valley in its northern region witnessing the first snowfall of the season. Gilgit-Baltistan, upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Kashmir have all been issued weather warnings, with expectations of light rain and snowfall throughout the week. The southern districts of Punjab are also predicted to face heavy fog in morning hours, while Murree and Galyat, the hilly regions of the Northern Areas, will experience the first snowfall of the season.
Meanwhile, Quetta in Balochistan has experienced saturated conditions with temperatures dropping to minus 5 degrees Celsius. Snowfall has affected other areas under different climatic zones across the nation, affecting a wide range of provinces. Several advisories have been issued to continue updated on weather forecasts. Fog in mountainous and hilly areas is very likely throughout the day, and citizens have been warned to take necessary precautions as to avoid sudden change in weather patterns and deal environment.
Pakistan Meteorological Department has been urging citizens to stay informed and in preparedness amid environmental warnings all over the country, especially in mountaneous towns. Residents should be paying attention to any changes in temperature with fall of temperatures from sudden significantly it's secondary colder over nightually dropping to second comps been of overall weather.
