The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has dismissed social media claims about black rain or dangerously polluted rainfall in Karachi.
The PMD official stated there is no evidence of any unusual environmental threat and that the country’s atmosphere remains safe.
Deputy Director Anjum Nazir Zaigham said reports circulating online about abnormal rain and hazardous pollution levels in Karachi are baseless.
He said a western weather system is currently active over parts of Balochistan, where rain has been recorded in different areas, but no alarming conditions have been observed.
He also rejected suggestions that tensions involving Iran and the wider Middle East are having a serious impact on Karachi’s air quality.
According to him, temporary movement in the Air Quality Index can happen because of routine weather changes, including disturbances in sea breeze patterns and dust-carrying northwesterly winds.
Zaigham said the current situation should not be compared to past regional conflicts that caused large-scale atmospheric damage. He noted that the recent military activity in Iran is limited to the country’s northwestern side, while Pakistan borders its southern region, where conditions remain stable.
He added that rainfall recorded in parts of Balochistan, Punjab, and upper Sindh has not shown any harmful impact so far. However, the department is still carrying out a detailed review of rainwater samples to check for any unusual contaminants.
The Met official said Pakistan now has modern satellite-based monitoring systems that can quickly identify toxic material or smoke clouds in the air. He said current satellite observations show no dangerous atmospheric activity over Pakistan.
He urged the public not to rely on rumors, adding that the government and relevant agencies are continuously monitoring the situation. He also noted that rainfall generally improves air quality by helping remove dust and pollutants from the atmosphere.