Smog engulfs Karachi with 'hazardous' air quality

KARACHI: The city Sunday was covered by smog as its air quality worsened with polluted particles in the atmosphere, a weather analyst told Geo News.

According to Owais Haider, a climate analyst, the port city's air quality was "severely affected" following pollution in the air.

At present, Karachi's air remains hazardous at 137 on the Air Quality Index (AQI) and is marked "unhealthy for sensitive groups".

Haider said the city's air quality remains impacted due to light wind from the northeast, which has brought polluted particles into the air.

The weather is foggy due to high humidity and light air, he added.

"Fog combines with particulate matter to form smog," the weather analyst said.

Haider told Geo News that the minimum temperature in the city is likely to remain between 13°C to 15°C during the coming week.

He added that light rain is expected under the influence of western wind on December 21 and 22, 2023.

"Karachi's air quality is likely to improve after light rain," Haider said.

Last month, after the Punjab caretaker government took measures against high smog levels, Sindh, too, decided to step up its efforts to tackle worsening air quality in the port city due to smog.

Sindh Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retd) Maqbool Baqar had urged citizens to wear face masks in light of worsening air quality.

"As a short-term measure, the chief minister Sindh encourages all citizens to wear face masks," read the statement issued on CM House's X account.

"Schools and educational institutions are hereby urged to ensure that students wear face masks to protect themselves from illnesses concomitant with smog!" it added.