By Muhammad Saleem
Artificial intelligence is now analyzing the skies over Lahore. In a major, modern move, the Punjab government has started using Artificial Intelligence (AI)—the same kind of smart technology that powers video games and apps—to track smog levels.
Experts are cheering this big step toward using solid facts to manage the environment.
But they are also giving a stern warning: computers alone can’t fix the air unless people and the government take real action together.
The Shift to Digital Smog Monitoring in Lahore
Former Environment Department officer, Shaukat Ali, told this reporter that this new digital system is a massive change. The network connects many factories to a central system that watches their pollution in real time.
Ali said, “This is a great start. With time, technology will take the place of old methods, helping us find people who are polluting right away and letting us respond much faster.”
AI Smog Monitoring Lahore: Technology Alone Isn’t Enough
However, Ali strongly pointed out that actually enforcing the rules is still the most important part. “If the data shows pollution, action must follow,” he stressed, adding that factory owners and companies that are caught polluting should face immediate fines.
He added, “We urgently need to get rid of the things that are making our environment dangerous.”
Community Participation: A Key Ingredient for Smog Control
He also made it clear that fighting smog won’t work without the help of everyone in the community.
“The government can set the rules, but the public has to do its part, too—by taking good care of their cars, not burning trash, and choosing cleaner ways to live,” he explained.
The Power of AI and High-Tech Tools to Monitor Pollution
According to government officials, the province is now relying on a high-tech toolkit. This includes AI for guessing future pollution, data analysis, flying drones to look around, and special “super-sensors” to make sure air-quality rules are followed closely.
Deputy Director Ali Ijaz shared that the department has also put 15 special fog cannons along busy roads, construction zones, and major traffic jams to push down dust in the air.
He said, “Our goal is to watch pollution, guess what it will do next, and cut it down all at the same time.”
The Challenge: Addressing the Root Causes of Smog
Still, experts caution that even the best technology can’t solve the deep, hidden problems that cause smog.
Shaukat Ali pointed out that broken-up roads and big traffic jams are still huge sources of pollution.
He explained, “When cars stop or wait for long periods at damaged road sections, they use more fuel—which means more pollution.”
He argues that fixing the roads should be treated as a way to help the environment, not just a way to improve travel.
AI’s Role in Predicting and Responding to Pollution
Technology specialists say AI’s biggest power is how it can process massive amounts of sensor data and spot risks that regular people can’t see.
Mohsin Ali, an IT expert, told this reporter that “AI can handle information from countless sensors, find patterns that humans would miss, and even predict when pollution will spike because of traffic, factory work, or changes in the weather.”
“When officials have these facts,” he added, “they can react fast and exactly—by shutting down certain factories, changing traffic routes, or sending out health warnings before the air gets really bad.”
The Real Test: Turning Data into Action to Fight Smog
However, he and other experts agree that the collected data must quickly turn into real, noticeable action.
If the rules aren’t strictly enforced, if things aren’t done openly, and if the public doesn’t get involved, Lahore’s smog problem will likely stick around, no matter how smart the technology is.
AI’s Smarter Approach to Pollution: Success Depends on Action
For now, the government’s AI system has given the fight against pollution a powerful, smarter tool.
But its real success will depend on how fast that data leads to real-world decisions and whether everyone—both citizens and major businesses—can work together to help Lahore breathe a little easier.
Author Profile
