Pakistan’s first-ever smog tower has been installed in Lahore to tackle rising air pollution and smog levels. This initiative aims to improve air quality in the city, particularly during the winter smog season.
Monitoring and Decision for Future Installations
Authorities stated that the performance of the smog tower would be closely monitored. Based on its effectiveness, further installations across the city will be considered.
Location and Technical Details
The smog tower, located in the Mehmood Booti area of Lahore, is a collaborative project with the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDU). Imran Hamid Shaikh, Director General of the Punjab Environment Protection Department, revealed that the tower is capable of filtering 50,000 cubic feet of air per hour within a one-kilometer radius. A 15-day field test is underway to evaluate its efficiency in reducing pollutants from industrial emissions, chimneys, and waste dumping sites.
Testing and Cost Efficiency
The air quality will be assessed through advanced air quality monitors during the test phase. If successful, the initiative will expand without financial burden on the Punjab government, as private sector engineers are funding and supporting the experiment.
Innovative Design and Local Manufacturing
Talat Qamar, Vice President of the private company behind the project, explained that the 20-foot-tall smog tower—extendable to 50 feet—was developed locally after studying international models. It operates on minimal electricity, with options for solar, battery, or conventional power. Remarkably, the cost of the locally manufactured tower is three times lower than imported alternatives.
Initial Results and Future Plans
Preliminary results have been promising. After the tower’s installation in Mehmood Booti, the area’s Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped significantly from 1600 to 250 within a few days. Qamar suggested that deploying 200 similar towers across Lahore’s parks, shopping centers, and commercial zones could potentially eliminate smog from the city.
