The writer is an economist,
anchor, analyst and
the President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation
president@Pakistanprivateschools.com
Lahore ranked second on the list of most polluted cities in the world on Monday, with an air quality index (AQI) of 382 as thick smog persists in the Punjab capital despite efforts to bring down pollution levels. The AQI, which measures a range of pollutants, exceeded 1,000 to reach an unprecedented 1,194 in the country’s second-largest city according to data from IQAir, the Swiss air quality monitor.
The United Nations passed a significant resolution to declare access to a healthy environment – including clean and breathable air – a human right. Children are predominantly susceptible to these detrimental consequences. A study reporting the long-term effects of the Great London Smog of 1952 concluded that exposure to smog during the first year of life increased the risk of childhood asthma by 19·87%. This was prompted by the growing concern of rapidly increasing air pollution because of the increasing use of vehicles, industrial development, burning of fuels, and lack of implementation of strict laws and regulations particularly in developing countries. The growing air pollution across the world is a grave concern for public health as about seven million people die prematurely each year. Around 7 million people per year die from air pollution worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 4.2 million of which are due to exposure to ambient air pollution. In addition, 9 out of 10 people breathe air that exceeds WHO guideline limits for pollutants, with low-and middle-income countries suffering the most, including Pakistan. Lahore, the second-largest and most polluted city in Pakistan, has been plagued by a heavy blanket of smog recently. On average, the persistent smog smog reduces the average lifespan of Lahore’s citizens by 2.7 years. The ever-growing urbanization and industrialization have contributed to the worsening air quality of the city. Smog, being hazardous to health, is leading to a rapid sprout in multiple health-related problems, as well as raising concerns about the long-term deleterious effects on public health. The current situation is expected to worsen due to the lack of an active action plan from the government’s side and a failure of concerned authorities to take note of the urgency of the situation. Hence, this pressing issue alerts the relevant authorities regarding the detrimental consequences smog can have on public health and urges them to take immediate action to avoid further damage. Over the past few years, Lahore has gone from being the ‘city of gardens’ to one of the most polluted cities in the world. Each winter it grapples with the menace of smog – a mixture of ‘fog’ and ‘smoke’ usually emanating from vehicular and factory emissions, and burning of fossil fuels, and is highly unhealthy for all living beings. Yet, despite its expected occurrence, the government has failed to take timely measures to control and mitigate smog and its hazardous impact on the health of citizens. Furthermore, the fact that only around 1% of the country’s industrial establishments report their emissions raises distressing concerns over the neglected air quality of the city and its effect on public health. Given the damage that smog can incur, it is imperative that prudent measures be undertaken to improve air quality. Most environmental regulatory organizations fall behind due to the lack of specialized equipment, standardized protocols, trained personnel, and funds. According to a 2021 report issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), vehicular emissions contribute the most at 43 per cent, followed by industrial emissions at 25 per cent, agricultural emissions, particularly from burning of crops during harvest season in winter at 20 per cent, and burning of fossil fuels, particularly coal to generate power at 12 per cent. The higher percentage of vehicular emissions is three-fold. First, in light of a weak and limited public transport system, privately owned cars and motorcycles constitute the majority of the traffic on the road, with motorcycles comprising about 74 per cent of the total number of registered vehicles as of 2018. Second, motorcycles and autorickshaws, contributing a significant share of on-road traffic in Pakistan, have incredibly inefficient engines, thus producing a higher degree of emissions. Third, the fuel Pakistan uses falls under the Euro 2 category of the European Union standards, a significantly lower-quality fuel compared to the Euro 6 category adopted by high-income countries. Although the governments have made attempts to switch to a more environmentally friendly fuel, this is yet to happen. Failure to regulate and control these emissions results in an unhealthy increase in smoke and poisonous gases which combine with fog during winter months, resulting in hazardous smog. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, the cut-off for long-term fine particulate matter pollution (PM2.5) is 25 μg/m3. However, Pakistan’s average PM2.5 is significantly higher than the acceptable figure. This is a failure of not only the EPA but also the policymakers, who badly failed in the implementation. Instead of long-term sustainable measures, the government often resorts to ‘panic responses’ near or during winter months to counter the prevailing smog; an effort often seen as too little too late. Furthermore, despite the existence of laws and regulations for pollution control and waste management, the government has often failed to effectively implement these policies.
By embracing environmental stewardship and addressing the challenges that lie ahead, we can create a sustainable tomorrow, where our children and grandchildren can thrive in harmony with nature.
Several countries have successfully addressed smog and air pollution issues, offering valuable lessons for others: London Implemented congestion charges, promoted electric vehicles, and increased green spaces; Paris Introduced emission-reducing measures like bike-sharing systems and electric buses; Tokyo Enforced strict emissions controls, promoted clean energy, and implemented efficient public transportation; New York City and Beijing: Adopted comprehensive pollution reduction plans, increased energy efficiency, and expanded green spaces. Smog continues to be a grave public health concern for the citizens of Lahore. Despite existing legal frameworks, the inability of the government to effectively implement laws and policies to regulate smoke emissions from a variety of sources has exacerbated air pollution, especially in big cities in the previous years. Each year near winter, the government ‘cracks down’ against brick kilns, industries, and vehicles emitting excessive smoke by imposing hefty fines. However, this is often seen as an ineffective measure that fails to address the root cause of the issue. Oftentimes, many industry owners go undetected or continue emitting hazardous smoke after paying the fines. Furthermore, farmers lament the crop burning ban, a relatively cheaper method to clear the field as opposed to adopting expensive but more environment-friendly technologies. In a 2019 survey, almost 40% of the farmers opposed the ban simply because they were unable to afford alternative methods, arguing that they would welcome the ban if the government provided subsidies and support in acquiring and incorporating other environment-friendly technologies in agriculture practices. In 2017, the Environment Protection Department of the Punjab Government issued policies to control smog. First, the adoption of low-sulphur fuel which has proven to be more environmentally friendly was proposed. However, the government admitted that while this policy was first suggested in 2008, its implementation is annually postponed. On the part of the government, this means having to devise new contracts with international suppliers, such as Kuwaiti Petroleum, to supply for low sulphur fuel. Furthermore, the local oil refineries have shown reluctance in agreeing to switch from low to high sulphur fuel as this would require heavy investments to upgrade their existing facilities; a step seen as unfavorable due to economies of scale. This also requires the government to introduce better incentives to push oil refineries to make the shift. Second, efforts to ensure catalytic converters are operational in all vehicles were also proposed. However, this required the provincial government to liaise with the federal government to import required parts; a task subjected to administrative lags and bureaucratic inefficiencies. Third, revamping government efforts to effectively manage solid waste management, ban crop burning whilst introducing alternative, environment-friendly technologies, and fine industries and brick kilns emanating excessive pollution. Among the broader aims were effective management of urban development to ensure industries are built away from residential areas and build government capacity to monitor air pollution. The government needs a National Action Plan with effective reforms to address the administrative and bureaucratic challenges that may impede effective implementation. Furthermore, the government needs to focus on establishing new cities despite metropolitan cities and new housing societies in metropolitan cities. There is also a need of long-term goals of building an effective and sustainable public transport system for all citizens to ease pressure off of the roads occupied by private vehicles. Similarly, the government needs to ensure that industries are not built alongside residential areas, and existing industries are either moved elsewhere in the long term or monitored to ensure that they effectively manage their air emissions. To achieve this, the government could also liaise with the industries to ensure they have access to the latest and environment-friendly technologies. In addition, the government also needs to revamp the agriculture sector of Pakistan which still relies on primitive farming methods, and provide the support required to introduce more environment-friendly technologies in the agricultural operations. In essence, the provincial government alone cannot be expected to achieve these long-term goals, and therefore, the federal government must also step in to play its part in controlling smog to ensure a better and healthier environment for its citizens. The relevant bodies need to actively handle the smog weather before its arrival and there is a need to create awareness in the general public because usually, people misunderstand smog as fog. Lessons learned and solutions provided by WHO which are adopted by various countries in order to combat air pollution include:
Investment in energy-efficient power generation. Improving domestic, industry, and municipal waste management and reducing agricultural waste incineration, forest fires, and certain agro-forestry activities are important. Making greener and more compact cities with energy-efficient buildings, and providing universal access to clean, affordable fuels and technologies for cooking, heating, and lighting are also very effective. By building safe and affordable public transport systems and cycle-friendly networks the success of resolving the issue is high. Additionally, there are also certain artificial yet technical measures to contest smog which are: Gas to liquid technology in fuel which is more environment friendly; Usage of hydrogen fuels additive which can reduce the emission of pollutants. By Stringent emissions regulations; Promoting clean energy and electric vehicles; Efficient public transportation systems; Green spaces and urban planning; Congestion management; Public awareness campaigns; and Collaboration between government, industries, and citizens. These countries demonstrate that a multi-faceted approach, combined with political will and public engagement, can effectively reduce smog and improve air quality. In the context of Lahore, similar strategies can be employed, such as: Implementing emission-reducing measures for industries and vehicles; Promoting clean energy sources like solar and wind power; Expanding green spaces and parks; Improving public transportation systems; Encouraging electric or hybrid vehicles; Conducting public awareness campaigns; and Collaborating with stakeholders to address the root causes of smog. By learning from these success stories and adapting strategies to Lahore and Pakistan specific needs, it is possible to mitigate smog and improve air quality in the city. In conclusion, as we stand at the precipice of a precarious future, it becomes imperative that we take collective action to combat the environmental issues that threaten the very fabric of our existence. Let us join hands in a resolute endeavor to save the planet, to save the future, and to ensure a brighter tomorrow for generations yet to come. By embracing environmental stewardship and addressing the challenges that lie ahead, we can create a sustainable tomorrow, where our children and grandchildren can thrive in harmony with nature. Let us rise to the occasion, with hope in our hearts and determination in our souls, to fight for the future and preserve the beauty and wonder of our planet for all eternity.