LAHORE, (TDI): Pakistan’s first smog tower has started a trial run in Lahore, a city struggling with hazardous pollution levels.
The pilot project, launched by the Punjab Department of Environmental Protection (EPD) in partnership with a private university, aims to tackle the growing smog crisis.
If successful, the government plans to replicate the technology in other cities across Punjab.
Lahore, home to over 14 million people, experiences worsening smog each year, especially during winter. In November 2024, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached an alarming 1,400—well beyond the hazardous threshold.
Even on average winter days, the AQI often exceeds 300, posing severe health risks and prompting urgent government intervention.
Smog Tower Trial
The smog tower, installed in the Mehmood Buti area of Lahore, is an experimental project designed to combat air pollution. EPD Director General Imran Hamid said, “If the trial is successful, we will expand this technology to other smog-affected cities.” The trial will run for a few weeks to assess its effectiveness.
The Punjab government is also collaborating regionally to address air pollution, including efforts to develop a joint action plan with neighboring countries like India. “We are working on regional air quality improvement,” Hamid added.
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Authorities have intensified efforts to curb pollution at its sources. Factories, brick kilns, and smoke-emitting vehicles are under stricter scrutiny, while enforcement against crop burning—one of the leading causes of smog—has been ramped up.
How Smog Towers Work
Smog towers, also known as smog-free towers, are large-scale air purifiers designed to reduce harmful particulate matter in the air.
The concept was first introduced by Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde, who installed the initial tower in Rotterdam in 2015. Since then, similar installations have appeared in cities like Beijing, Krakow, and Anyang.
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China’s largest smog tower, a 100-meter-high structure in Xi’an, was built in 2016 at a cost of $2 million, with annual operating expenses of $30,000.
The Health Impact of Smog
According to a recent report by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, Lahore’s residents face a significant reduction in life expectancy—up to 7.5 years—due to poor air quality.
As the smog tower trial continues, Lahore hopes to take a crucial step towards cleaner air and a healthier future.
