A strange smell has been wafting through Karachi’s air since yesterday. It has left many Karachiites confused. Everyone wants to know about the cause behind this pungent smell that has spread throughout the city.

Social media platforms have been abuzz with questions regarding the smell

What is this strange smell in Karachi's air? :/

— Esha. (@GirlHasNoHandle) May 31, 2017

And no one knows what the source is

Yas. This weird smell has spread in the whole Karachi right around Maghrib n after that and no one knows why. #KhiAlerts #Karachi

— الف (@arexei) May 31, 2017

Everyone’s pretty confused

Is it only me or everyone else is also experiencing some strange smell in the atmosphere? #Karachi

— Maryam Asif (@maaaryyyammm) May 31, 2017

And apparently, it has to be pretty serious

Lots of people complaining about some smell in Karachi. It must be really terrible since they actually noticed it. Usually they're immune.

— Junaid Akram (@junaidakram83) May 31, 2017

People think that the smell is similar to that of a dead animal

Thought there was a dead animal in the house. Then i could smell it outside. #karachi are you playing mind games with me? Wtf is this smell?

— Reem (@Misstterious) May 31, 2017

However, some people don’t know about the smell altogether

What smell is everyone talking about????? I dont smell anything #Karachi

— خان (@KaliDaal) May 31, 2017

Theories have been proposed

I think secret agencies are experimenting something in Karachi. The smell in the air is annoying. Literally smells like shit.

— Arsal A. Jafri (@arsaljafri) May 31, 2017

Statements have been made unabashedly

That Rotten Smell all over Karachi was a Biochemical Attack

— Zain H. Baloch ?? (@ZainHabibullah1) May 31, 2017

Potential reasons have been put forward for the strange smell in Karachi were

Strange Smell in Karachi: Mystery Revealed! https://t.co/wkuSBQt5Iu pic.twitter.com/oWC0UqLJap

— Lollywood Life (@Lollywood_Life) June 1, 2017

Some questionable reasons have been put forward, too

What is this weird smell in karachi's air. Altaf bhai tou wapis nahi agaye?!

— nma. (@namaloomafraaad) May 31, 2017

Basically, there have been a lot of theories

So the apparent reason for that smell in Karachi was because of the change in wind direction. Some cold breeze indicating it might rain 🙂

— Ibad Ahmed ?? (@Ibadahmed_MUFC) May 31, 2017

Like, A LOT

Eventually, this particular theory started doing the rounds

Why is #Karachi having smell in the wind? Here's the answer. pic.twitter.com/BaJzfkCyGf

— Hina Safdar (@hinasafi) May 31, 2017

Here’s what the Met Office thinks the smell may come from:

To try to gain some insight into the matter, MangoBaaz reached out to the Met Office and asked them about the smell in Karachi. After numerous calls to various departments, and after actually being told by one of the departments that “Karachi main smell toh kachre ki wajah se aati hai,” a representative stated (rather reluctantly) that there have been no abnormal weather or wind patterns as far as Karachi is concerned.

Now that we can potentially rule out the weather, the question still remains: yeh smell aakhir hai kya? What do you think is the reason behind this awful smell? Let us know of any theories you have in the comments below.

Cover image via: Beauty of Pakistan / YouTube