LAHORE (Daily Point) — In an effort to combat the hazardous air quality, authorities in Lahore executed artificial rain on Friday, marking a historic moment as the first-ever cloud seeding operation in the capital of Punjab, Pakistan.

Lahore has grappled with severe smog, transforming the city into what residents describe as a “poisonous gas chamber,” leading to widespread health concerns over the past few months.

During a press conference, caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi disclosed the plan to seed clouds within a 10 to 15-kilometer radius of the provincial capital, aiming to induce rainfall. According to Naqvi, “10 areas of Punjab received light rain through the cloud seeding technique.”

Most parts of Lahore experienced light rain, with clouds generated around Shahdara and Muridke, he added. The artificial rain experiment involved the firing of 48 flares.

Funds for the project were provided by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the cost incurred solely for water expenses, according to the chief minister. Two aircraft from the UAE government were employed to disperse chemicals into the clouds.

CM Naqvi expressed optimism about the results of the artificial rain and announced plans to install smog towers in the city soon.

The cloud seeding process, a form of weather modification, involves deploying aircraft to release silver iodide plumes into the clouds. This prompts the formation of ice crystals, stimulating rainfall over targeted areas.