Battling smog

Lahore’s battle with smog has gone literal. For weeks, Lahore’s 14 million residents have found themselves shrouded in a dense, toxic haze – a lethal blend of fog and pollutants fueled by low-quality diesel emissions, smoke from seasonal crop burning, and the cooling effects of winter.

This smog isn’t just a seasonal inconvenience; it’s a direct threat to public health, a symptom of environmental negligence, and a warning that demands urgent action.

The air quality is staggering, with pollution levels reaching nearly 40 times the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit. PM2.5 pollutants, known for severe health risks, spiked to 610, and the air quality index (AQI) hit 1,067 – well beyond the ‘dangerous’ threshold of 300, according to IQAir data. Near the Indian border, AQI levels climbed to an alarming 1500-1800, while Lahore itself grappled with a hazardous AQI of 1000.

In response to this, the Punjab government ordered a one-week closure of primary schools in Lahore, prioritising children’s health amid dangerously poor air quality. Alongside this measure, authorities urged the corporate sector to allow half of their employees to work from home, aiming to reduce traffic and pollution levels during this critical period.

Parents have been asked to supply their children with masks and limit outdoor activities as much as possible. The Punjab government has also restricted specific vehicles from operating within a one-kilometre radius of designated green zones.

To clear up the city’s filthy air, the government has said that the technology for artificial rain, once sourced from the UAE, is now locally accessible, paving the way for its use as soon as conditions permit.

However, this band-aid solution reflects desperation: According to a recent report from the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, air pollution, Pakistan’s public-health enemy number one, has slashed Pakistan’s average life expectancy by 3.8 years. In the country’s most heavily polluted regions, the impact is even starker, with life expectancy dropping by as much as seven years. And more than 128,000 deaths occur in Pakistan due to air pollution illnesses. Most of these deaths are due to particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5) in the air.

When one takes a deep dive into the matter, it shows that particulate matter is primarily generated by a variety of sources, including vehicle emissions, construction and demolition activities, power generation, and industrial operations such as cement, textile, marble, and ceramics manufacturing. These pollutants pose significant risks to public health and the environment, necessitating urgent attention and action.

One effective approach is to launch comprehensive awareness campaigns that educate the public about the dangers of PM pollution. Such campaigns can advocate for simple preventive measures, like wearing masks and minimising outdoor activities during periods of high pollution.

Installing air quality monitors in every major city is essential. These devices should focus on tracking PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels, allowing residents and authorities to respond swiftly to hazardous conditions. Equipped with real-time data, citizens can make informed decisions about their daily activities, while policymakers can implement targeted measures to safeguard public health.

Enforcing stricter regulations on emissions from factories is another crucial step. This includes imposing penalties for the burning of agricultural stubble, a significant contributor to air pollution. By prioritising stringent emission controls, we can foster a cleaner, healthier environment.

Manufacturing plants must be required to install equipment that reduces pollution. They should then be inspected periodically by officials who check if their emissions fall below the limit, and ensure that firms don’t breach the pollution threshold. Monitoring must be efficient and enforcement strong. Regulators in Pakistan are often short on staff, making it challenging for them to monitor factories, particularly the smaller ones. Also, many companies find it difficult to afford the technology required to reduce their emissions.

To further combat reliance on fossil fuels, the promotion of renewable energy sources – such as solar, wind, and hydropower – must become a national priority. Transitioning to clean energy not only reduces air pollution but also fosters economic growth and job creation in the green sector.

Educational institutions play a vital role in this transformation. Hosting seminars that focus on environmental awareness and renewable energy can engage students in research projects that explore innovative solutions for cleaner energy and effective pollution mitigation strategies.

The government should also prioritise the development of green spaces in urban areas. In densely populated mega-cities, where green areas are scarce, encouraging rooftop gardens and urban plantations can significantly improve air quality. Research indicates that a minimum of nine square metre of green space per person is ideal for health and well-being.

Policymakers will have to struggle with Pakistan’s economy’s fundamental dilemma: it needs more factories for growth and job creation, but much less pollution.

The writer is an independent journalist from Karachi.