As Lahore braces for its annual smog crisis, a new environmental dilemma is emerging — the city’s use of water cannons to clear the air could deepen its already alarming groundwater depletion. The Punjab government has deployed fifteen anti-smog vehicles, each consuming up to 12,000 liters of water per spraying cycle, to reduce particulate matter in the air.
Officials claim early results show a 70% drop in PM10 levels in some areas, but environmental experts dismiss the move as “smog theatre.” Maryam Shah of the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative noted that such methods only offer short-lived cosmetic relief. China, she said, abandoned similar experiments due to their minimal impact on smog reduction.
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Experts warn the campaign could worsen Lahore’s water crisis. Dr. Muhammad Yaseen from Punjab University cautioned that the massive daily consumption — over two million liters — threatens a city where groundwater drops two to three feet annually. WWF’s Hammad Naqi Khan added that without tackling emissions, fuel quality, and industrial waste, “no anti-smog effort can save Lahore.”
