Punjab EPA approves new AQI forecasting model

LAHORE: The technical committee for analysis of the Air Quality Index (AQI), under the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab, has formally approved the agency’s newly-developed AQI forecasting model, terming it a major scientific advancement in environmental management.

The meeting, chaired by EPA Punjab Director General Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh (PAS), reviewed the system that aims to provide accurate short-term forecasts of air quality conditions across Punjab. The officials said the development marks a new milestone in the province’s ongoing efforts to establish a robust network of air quality monitoring stations.

During the session, Deputy Director Dr Farieha and Data Analyst Fahad Ahmad from the Strategy & Analysis Wing (SAW) presented the details of the forecasting model. The system, they explained, relies on primary air quality data collected across Punjab and incorporates international forecasting methodologies to predict air pollution trends with improved accuracy.

Committee members, comprising environmental scientists, academics, and representatives from relevant institutions, praised the initiative as a vital step toward evidence-based decision-making and policy formulation.

The panel noted that the forecasting model would not only strengthen the EPA’s scientific capacity but also enable timely health advisories and coordinated responses to pollution events such as smog.

Key participants included Dr Nusrat Naz, Director (monitoring, laboratory & implementation), EPA Punjab; Dr Derk Bekker, Head of Environmental Sciences Department, Forman Christian College University; Dr Zaeem bin Babar, Assistant Professor, University of the Punjab; Dr Umar Farooq from UET Lahore; Dr Hammad from PCSIR Laboratories; Hassan from the Urban Unit; Fatima Najeeb from the foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); and Riaz Ahmad, Deputy Director Lab, EPA Lahore.

Following detailed deliberations, the committee approved the forecast for the next five days and put forward constructive suggestions for refinement of the model, which the EPA team pledged to incorporate. The members also stressed the importance of comparing EPA’s forecast with other international patterns to ensure reliability and global alignment.

The committee was constituted under the authority of Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh, exercising powers granted by the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997. Officials underscored that the forecasting system is a critical tool in tackling Punjab’s recurring smog episodes and long-term air quality challenges.

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