Amid of worst Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore, the Punjab government has decided to deal with smog with artificial rain by using chemicals.

In a cabinet meeting chaired by caretaker chief minister Mohsin Naqvi, it was decided to ease the smog situation in the provincial capital artificial rain arrangements will be made.

The minister instructed the formation of a working group to supervise the initiative for artificial rain by Nov 28 or 29.

The downpours in Lahore on November 11 had given little relief from smog that gave the idea of artificial rain to the interim government.

The decision would produce positive consequences in Lahore where AQI touched 480, quite hazardous for residents health.

Process of artificial rain

Artificial rain, also known as cloud seeding, is a weather modification technique that aims to increase precipitation from clouds by dispersing substances, typically silver or potassium iodide, into the air to provide a surface for water vapour to condense onto.

The increased condensation leads to the formation of larger water droplets that eventually fall as rain.

How artificial rain can reduce smog?

While talking to the Urdu news regional director PMD Shahid Abbas said that artificial rain is not a difficult process but it contains many conditions to give positive results.

He added that the existence of 40 per cent rainy clouds and at least 70 per cent humidity in the air are a must for effective cloud seeding.

Abbas said that apart from this, the wind speed has also a significant role in the process which should be around 30 to 50 km per hour. Unless these conditions would not be met an artificial rain experiment cannot be successful.

Shahid Abbas further explained that even if the experiment of artificial rain is successful, it cannot be considered a permanent solution to eliminate pollution, because after the rain, the pollution will be less, but there is no guarantee that there will be clean air.

On the other hand, air pollution and smog can retake the position after the entire process, he added.