In a major breakthrough to address the region’s smog problem, the Punjab government successfully carried out a cloud seeding operation on Friday, using homegrown technology to trigger artificial rainfall.
The Provincial Meteorological Department confirmed that rainfall was observed in Jhelum, Gujar Khan, Chakwal, and Talagang, thanks to the cloud seeding effort. The government hailed the operation as a major achievement, underscoring Punjab’s leadership in technological innovation within Pakistan.
Meteorologists reported that the cloud seeding took place around 2 pm, with rain following just hours later in Jhelum and Gujar Khan. Experts are hopeful that the same technique could bring rain to Lahore, helping to reduce the city’s heavy smog.
The project was a collaborative effort involving specialists from Pakistan’s Strategic Plans Division (SPD), Army Aviation, PARCO (Pakistan Arab Refining Company), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Punjab government.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated the project team, praising their hard work and expertise. “Today, through your efforts, Punjab has made history. The entire nation is proud of you,” she said.
Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb also expressed her gratitude, celebrating the timely rainfall and acknowledging the success of the operation. “Alhamdulillah, today we received good news in the form of rain,” she said, noting that while a similar experiment was carried out last year with support from the UAE, this time the success was achieved entirely with local technology and expertise.
