Pakistan Combats Worsening Pollution With Artificial Rain Through Cloud Seeding

Pakistan has been forced to create artificial rain in order to reduce pollution levels in places such as Lahore. The metropolis of the eastern province of Punjab, near the Indian border, has some of the world's worst air quality and has become very polluted as a result of an increasing population of more than 13 million people.

In early December, the city's air quality had deteriorated to the point where schools, markets, and parks were shuttered for four days. By last weekend, the city's air quality index (AQI) had reached levels considered extremely hazardous to health.

Cloud Seeding

(Photo : Getty Images/Shammi MEHRA)

To try to minimize them, the Punjab government utilized cloud seeding on Saturday to induce rain at ten sites throughout the city using a small Cessna plane. This is the first time such a technology has been utilized to combat pollution in Pakistan. To form the clouds, there must be enough moisture present in the lower atmospheric clouds.

During the summer, planes spray common table salt mixed with water over cloudy areas. After a few hours, the mist combines with the clouds to form rain.

In the winter, clouds are seeded with silver iodide flakes fired from a vehicle or a plane. In July 1946, Vincent Schaefer came up with the concept of artificial rain for the first time.

Countries such as China, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates have used the approach to manufacture fake rain to combat drought and provide temporary relief to people when pollution levels reach harmful levels.

China has the world's largest cloud seeding program. It used seeding just before the 2008 Beijing Olympics to ensure that the weather remained dry during the games.

Read Also: Cloud Seeding Completed July in Mexico Might Recharge Aquifers During Drought

Further Study Suggested

Bilal Afzal, the provincial interim minister for the environment, said the cloud seeding was a success, although rainfall was "scanty" due to poor cloud quality.

Despite this, Lahore's air quality improved with just a few millimeters of rain, decreasing from an AQI of over 300 to 189. However, the benefits lasted only a few days before pollution returned to pre-reduction levels.

Afzal stated that the government planned to sow clouds on a regular basis during the pollution season.

"If we can clean our air at the cost of fuel for one small plane, the exercise would be well worth it," he added.

It would, however, necessitate the purchase or rental of a tiny plane. Afzal also claims that the emissions from it are only the equivalent of two or three cars running for roughly four hours.

However, climate experts have warned that the impacts of cloud seeding may be unpredictable. Dr. Ghulam Rasul issued a warning that "overdose may result in hailstorms or torrential rain."

He added that while it might provide temporary relief from smog, it was not a sustainable solution and could create very dry conditions, potentially causing fog and smog to become even more persistent.

Experts advised that the government should conduct research into the consequences of meddling with nature and utilize this tool carefully.

Related Article: Cloud Seeding Technology Seen To Help Fight Toxic Smog in India