For the first time in the history of Punjab, the provincial government officially tested anti-smog guns in Lahore's Kahna to improve the air quality, said a spokesperson for the Environment Protection Force.
The spokesperson said that Kahna recorded a 70% reduction in air pollution following the use of anti-smog guns.
Pakistan regularly ranks among the world's most polluted countries, with Lahore often the most polluted megacity between November and February.
Lahore's 14 million residents spent six months breathing concentrations of PM2.5 — tiny particles that can penetrate the lungs and bloodstream — at levels 20 times or more than recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Taking to her X handle, Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb called the experiment a “remarkable success” in their environmental efforts.
“Following CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif's directive, the first anti-smog gun operation in Kahna, Lahore, has reduced the Air Quality Index (AQI) from 666 to 170.”
She added that the 70% decrease in air pollution has been scientifically analysed and confirmed by the advanced environmental monitoring system.
“Our commitment to utilising modern technology to combat smog and safeguard citizens' health remains absolute,” she added.