According to the Met Office, a westerly weather system is expected to enter the country’s upper regions on the night of November 3 and may persist until November 5. Under its influence, rain, windstorms, and isolated thunderstorms—with snowfall over the mountains— are anticipated in large parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
For Punjab, the PMD predicts rain and thunderstorms in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Talagang, Jhelum, Sargodha, Khushab, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Narowal, and Lahore on November 4. Sporadic hailstorms may also occur during this period.
The weather change is expected to cool daytime and nighttime temperatures significantly, bringing much-needed respite but also challenging conditions for farmers and travelers. The PMD urged farmers to plan agricultural activities in line with the forecast, while advising tourists to remain cautious, especially in hilly regions.
Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director General Irfan Ali Kathia noted that the rains would likely lead to a marked reduction in smog, a welcome development as Lahore continues to rank as the most polluted city on the planet.
On Monday morning, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) spiked to a hazardous 479—a level considered extremely dangerous to human health. Even by evening, pollution levels remained alarmingly high, with readings of 521 at the CERP Office, 517 at FF Pakistan, and 433 near Diamond Paints Industries. Across several neighborhoods, including Bedian Road, DHA, Valencia Town, and Allama Iqbal Town, the AQI hovered well above 300, a level classified as “severe.”
As part of an intensified anti-smog crackdown, Punjab police reported 28 cases filed and multiple arrests over the past 24 hours in Lahore and surrounding districts. Officials said 396 violators were fined over Rs1 million, while others received formal warnings. The violations included crop residue burning, high-emission vehicles, industrial non-compliance, and illegal brick kiln operations.
With the skies poised to finally open, many in Punjab are hoping the coming rains will wash away more than just dust and smog—perhaps signaling a momentary breath of clarity in the province’s struggle against its toxic air crisis.
