Clearing the air

Sepia-toned Lahore has finally found a reason to be hopeful. The thick blanket of smog that covers the city as soon as the winter arrives will now hopefully lose some of its strength. The Punjab government has used cloud seeding technology to use artificial rain to help Lahore tackle its pollution problem; it was supported in this endeavour by the UAE government that provided the infrastructure necessary for this technological wonder. 

This strategy has been used in the UAE, US and other countries, and the Punjab government is hopeful that it will be beneficial for Lahore as well. Over the years Lahore has become one of the worst places in the world for air pollution.

A Human Rights Watch report published a few weeks ago warns that experts now believe that air pollution in Lahore can reduce life expectancy of the city’s residents by seven years. This figure alone should have alarmed the authorities who must take all steps necessary to fight air pollution. Lahore’s toxic smog is also a result of the city’s bad policies and reliance on low-grade diesel for vehicles. But the impact of these ill-thought-out policies are borne by residents. Not only does this toxic smog lead to health issues like life-threatening respiratory problems, it also disrupts everyday life in the city; for example, a few weeks back, the Punjab government had to close down schools to bring down air pollution.

Authorities say that the cloud seed technology made drizzling possible in at least 10 areas in Lahore. So far there has been no data on the impact of this rain, but experts are hopeful that the process will help bring down air pollution levels. Meanwhile, Lahore’s residents are unsurprisingly sceptical. For far too long have they been promised a smog-free city – only for the city to get worse each passing year. And, while it is good to see the Punjab government thinking out of the box, the fact is that policymakers need to come up with a long-term plan to make Lahore pollution-free. For starters, investment in a robust public transportation system is mandatory (something that has been pointed out by environment experts for years now) if we are serious about saving the lives of residents and tackling the pollution problem. Excessive cars on roads and an urban infrastructure that has become more car-centric are some of the factors responsible for dangerous levels of air pollution in the city.

Also, the mindless destruction of the green belt to make way for housing societies needs to stop. Instead, urban forests should be set up across the city. Smoke-emitting factories that operate in the middle of residential areas should be issued show-cause notices and must be ordered to move their operations in the city’s outskirts. Similarly, farmers should be facilitated for the safe disposal of waste and stubble. Random, knee-jerk actions or publicity events will not bring the desired results. Authorities need to introduce a long-term action plan to make Lahore’s air healthy and clean. And if this includes taking tough decisions against unbridled development, so be it. We cannot let the environment bear the brunt of our careless policies.