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Pakistani officials are using anti-smog guns in the eastern city Lahore for the first time this winter to tackle dangerous air pollution, officials said Thursday.
Equipment mounted on more than a dozen trucks is spraying a fine mist of water to help settle dust and airborne particles, said Punjab Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Sajid Bashir.
He said initially 15 anti-smog guns have been deployed in different parts of the city. However, Bashir blamed vehicle emissions, industrial smoke, construction dust and burning of crop residue by farmers for the worsening pollution.
“We hope that the use of anti-smog guns will help in reducing air pollution,” Bashir said. He warned that winds coming from across the border could worsen the situation in the coming days.
Every winter, a thick blanket of smog descends over Lahore, forcing schools to close and millions of people to stay indoors. Last year, authorities used artificial rainfall to clear away the smog, but the effort had little effect.
Lahore, once known as the “city of gardens” for its lush Mughal-era landscapes, has lost much of its greenery due to rapid urbanization and population growth, and now struggles under poisonous gray skies every winter.