Air pollution in major cities such as Karachi and Lahore, is a critical issue caused by several interrelated factors. Transportation is indeed a major contributor primarily due to old and poorly maintained vehicles, high reliance on low quality fossil fuels, lack of public transport, and limited enforcement of vehicular emission standards. Pakistan's road fuel quality has historically lagged behind that of neighbouring countries, notably India and China. The use of lower-quality fuels in Pakistan contributes to higher emissions of pollutants such as sulphur-dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. These pollutants have been linked to various health issues.
Under the new refining policy approved in August 2023, refineries are required to increase production of environmentally-friendly petrol and diesel fuels through refinery upgradation. However, implementation of the policy is still pending due to certain issues. It is of vital importance to implement the policy without further delay to reduce emission of killer pollutants.
Dr Mohammad Saleem
Karachi
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