Breakthrough Success: UAE-Pakistan Collaboration Brings Artificial Rain to Lahore, Combating Smog Crisis

Islamabad: In a groundbreaking effort to tackle the severe smog crisis in Lahore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has successfully implemented the first artificial rain project, garnering unprecedented successes in the fight against air pollution. Hamad Obaid Al Zaabi, the UAE Ambassador in Islamabad, announced the promising outcomes of the initiative, emphasizing the direct involvement of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of the Presidential Court.

The artificial rain project, conducted in collaboration with the Federal Government of Pakistan and the government of Punjab province, aims to alleviate the dangerous effects of smog on Lahore and its population of over 22 million people. Residents witnessed the first artificial rain on December 16, marking a significant milestone in the proactive approach to combatting high levels of air pollution.

Ambassador Al Zaabi highlighted the precision of the artificial rain experiment, noting that light rain fell in 10 targeted areas, covering a range of 10-15 kilometers in Lahore. The cloud seeding process involved the deployment of 48 flares to stimulate rain, using only water, ensuring no harm to health—a method successfully employed in Dubai and some American states.

Speaking about the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science, Ambassador Al Zaabi outlined its international significance. Launched in 2015 by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the program supports innovative technologies addressing water scarcity issues in arid regions. The program, providing financial grants worth more than $18 million, selects distinguished research projects worldwide, contributing to global knowledge of rain enhancement science.

Ambassador Al Zaabi explained artificial cloud seeding as a deliberate weather modification process, wherein clouds are stimulated to release hidden water or frozen snow over specific areas. The goals include increasing rainfall in low-rainfall areas, cleaning and cooling the air, preventing storms, and reducing the heat of the sun.

In conclusion, Ambassador Al Zaabi detailed the artificial rain seeding process, involving the deployment of catalysts by aircraft or ground cannons, using materials such as dry ice, solid carbon dioxide, silver iodide, calcium chloride, sodium chloride, and water mist. The use of silver iodide, a renowned process for artificial cloud seeding, increases cloud density, leading to the precipitation of ice crystals and subsequent rainfall.

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This collaborative initiative between the UAE and Pakistan marks a significant stride in environmental sustainability, showcasing the potential of international cooperation in addressing pressing global challenges. The success of the artificial rain project brings hope to the residents of Lahore and sets a precedent for innovative solutions to combat environmental issues worldwide.