I clearly remember, when I was in primary grade winters in Lahore would be freezing cold. It would get so cold that on some days my Grandma would not let me go to the school because of extreme cold waves. This session of freezing cold winter would start from November and last good long till the very end of February.
My mother would wrap me in at least three layers of sweaters plus leg warmers and still the cold would get to me. But as I grew up, the weather in Lahore also somehow changed, as if it had gotten old and lost its energy.
Lahore was a city that fully expressed all seasons of nature, but from past few years things have been changed a lot. Normally there a four seasons in a year, but we got a few more than normal:
- Smog: a toxic fog, but not cold
- Rain: the name is same but happens without any seasonal definition
- Hail: a hail storm with bigger ice balls.
Unusual Smog Covered the City
Pakistani commuters are seen on a street during a smoggy day in Lahore on November 2, 2016
Last year in winters an unusual type of fog created its blanked all over Lahore in mid-November. This occurrence not only took place is Lahore but it was also in other cities of Punjab and this alarming situation finally made us realize that the Global Warming Effect is real. The winters are getting shorter and warmer with time, whereas the summer hotness just does not end so easily.
Extreme Weather is Becoming Routine Thing
Even this year, when the summers have just started highest temperature recorded in Lahore was more than 45°C in April and it was announced as the hottest day. According to the weather forecast authorities Lahore including other cities of Pakistan, are facing serious climate changes due to the drastic increase in pollution. In fact, it’s an emerging problem of the whole planet earth and this has become a much serious situation than violence in the world.
Infrequent Weather Behavior
Moreover, from last few years it’s becoming trend in major agricultural cities of Punjab and Lahore, they go under the clouds of an unpredictable hail storm, right in the middle of wheat harvesting season. In result of this many fully ready crops were distorted. This hail storm, in the month of April created its own record. Reports showed that the size of an ice ball from the hail storm was bigger than usually, and the only conclusion was the melting of ice caps.
The story does not end on the climate changes only, over the past few years Lahore and other nearby towns became victims of several earthquakes periodically. Such periodic earthquakes are also an effect of Global Warming.
Monsoon and Erratic Weather Condition
Then come to the flood, if the government had paid attention floods had indicated alarming climate changing situation years ago. Every year, not only Punjab but in all parts of the country faces severe floods yet no precautions have been taken. Every year in the month of August, Monsoon hits and creates a chaos in the city with widespread rain periods in the city, after some dry spell of July. Frequent and heavy rains turn the city roads into puddles.
A report showed that the biggest cause of such global warming effects is the increase of toxics in the air, making the air more polluted in Lahore. This increase in air pollution is because of the following main reasons:
- excessive emissions from cars and other vehicles
- no proper disposal of factory waste
- large numbers of trees cut down
- heavy construction in most parts of the city (metro train)
It is time that our development authorities actually started paying off its debts. Starting from the trees, for the construction of new roads and better infrastructure many trees gave their life up. Lahore was once known for its lush tall trees, found not only just in parks but everywhere.
.Monsoon rain and floods have killed at least 84 people across Pakistan and affected tens of thousands of others, officials said, warning of more rain to come. AFP PHOTO/ Farooq NAEEM
Moreover, the floods should be utilized rather than wasted; building of dams can create this magic and with it can come more amazing things. Take extra precautions for natural disasters like floods, earthquake etc. Once the nature is reinstated to its natural ways, there is a hope that things could get better.
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