Lahore, Pakistan — In a bold and unprecedented move to fight hazardous air pollution, Lahore has become the first city in the world to install and operationalize a field-tested dust suspension system featuring 15 state-of-the-art Anti-Smog Guns, officials confirmed this week.
The initiative, spearheaded by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, aims to tackle the city’s chronic air quality crisis, which frequently sees Lahore ranked among the most polluted urban centres on the planet during smog season.
“These advanced fog cannons will play a vital role in safeguarding public health and improving the quality of life in our city,” the Chief Minister said, noting that the launch marks a major milestone in Pakistan’s environmental response strategy.
The Anti-Smog Guns, often referred to as fog cannons, spray ultra-fine water mist into the atmosphere, specifically targeting harmful particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10 — the tiny airborne particles most responsible for respiratory illnesses and long-term health damage. Once the mist bonds with these pollutants, they are forced to settle out of the air, significantly lowering their concentration in the environment.
Environmental engineers involved in the rollout say the system has already shown positive results in field tests, with noticeable reductions in air toxicity in targeted urban zones.
Positioned across key pollution hotspots in Lahore — including traffic intersections, construction zones, and industrial areas — the deployment strategy is tailored to ensure maximum impact where smog density tends to peak.
While critics have called for more aggressive long-term reforms such as industrial regulation and crop burn prevention, experts acknowledge that this technological intervention offers immediate relief in a city where school closures and health warnings have become seasonal norms.
The success of Lahore’s pilot programme is now drawing interest from other high-smog cities around the world. According to provincial officials, discussions are already underway to scale up the deployment and explore integration with broader environmental monitoring systems.
If proven effective over the coming months, Lahore’s model could serve as a blueprint for urban air quality solutions in similarly afflicted metropolises across South Asia and beyond.
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