The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has offered Pakistan technical and material assistance to help address severe smog issues affecting various regions, particularly Punjab. UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi expressed concern over Pakistan’s smog crisis, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to providing relief.
Ambassador Al-Zaabi noted that the UAE previously supported Pakistan by deploying special aircraft for cloud seeding, which successfully induced rainfall in certain areas and provided relief to the population. The assistance, carried out last year under Pakistan’s caretaker administration, marked the first cloud seeding project in South Asia. This initiative aimed to mitigate Punjab’s air pollution, which has reached hazardous levels, especially in Lahore—one of the most polluted cities globally.
Al-Zaabi confirmed that he is in regular contact with Pakistani officials, who have been proactive in taking steps to manage the pollution. The UAE is optimistic that Pakistan will implement further measures to alleviate the adverse effects of smog. Last December, UAE teams equipped with cloud seeding technology, including two aircraft, initiated the process in over 10 areas of Lahore. The artificial rain brought temporary relief to the city’s residents, who are regularly impacted by toxic smog during winter.
Punjab’s then-caretaker chief minister, Mohsin Naqvi, publicly appreciated the UAE’s “gift” to Pakistan, acknowledging the efforts of UAE teams who used 48 flares to induce rain. The UAE, which frequently utilizes cloud seeding to create rain in its arid environment, has also applied this weather modification method in other nations, including the United States, China, and India. The process involves releasing salt crystals into clouds to stimulate rainfall—a technique experts confirm can help reduce pollution even with minimal precipitation.
Pakistan’s air quality has declined over recent years due to diesel emissions, crop burning, and winter temperature drops, with Lahore and other parts of Punjab experiencing the most intense smog. The smog has even spread to multiple districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting both local and international collaboration to combat this environmental hazard.
