PAKISTAN ranks at the third most-polluted country in the world as per 2022 US Air Quality Index Report. We need to understand that it’s not just a weather phenomenon but it is a call for action for a nation standing on the precipice of an environmental crisis.
Millions of people in Pakistan feel the widespread effects of smog, leading to urgent actions like closing schools temporarily and everyone using masks. It’s crucial to understand that these are no quick fixes of a long-lasting problem. We need multi-pronged strategy to deal with this persistent issue.
With the start of November “smog emergency” has been declared in Lahore by the High Court (LHC), the Punjab government has directed the educational institutions to make compulsory for the students to wear masks during school hours for the next entire month.
The Punjab government also declared a smart lockdown in seven districts which include Lahore, Nankana Sahib, Sheikhupura, Kasur, Gujranwala, Hafizabad and Narowal to tackle the soaring smog levels. Smog, a noxious combination of smoke and fog every year plagues Punjab, particularly the northern part of the province in the winter season. The Air Quality Life Index report from the University of Chicago highlights the severe health risks associated with fine particulate matter, linking it to lung disease, heart disease, strokes and cancer.
In the quest for cleaner air, it is essential to understand factors contributing to Pakistan’s smog crisis, such as low-grade diesel fumes and seasonal crop burn off, which need for comprehensive governance and sustainable practices. “We have the dirtiest diesel and fuel in the world,” Ahmad Rafay Alam said calling smog “a total failure of governance”. Emphasizing the need for systematic change.
In June 2021, Pakistan unveiled the Pakistan Clean Air Plan (PCAP), a notable stride in combating both local and national air pollution. The PCAP 2021 orchestrated by the Ministry of the Environment and bolstered by partnerships with the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Clean Air Asia, embarks on a multifaceted approach. With three pivotal objectives, establishing air pollution concentration targets, pinpointing effective mitigation strategies and formulating a comprehensive Air Quality Improvement Action Plan, the PCAP 2021 reflects a holistic and strategic approach. Beyond the drawing board, the plan is set to tackle various sources of pollution, from curbing waste and agricultural burning to regulating industrial emissions.
It envisions transition from traditional wood stoves to biomass cooking, emphasizing greater fuel efficiency and promotes the adoption of cleaner fuel vehicle standards. The collaborative effort encapsulated in PCAP 2021 signifies a commendable commitment to creating a healthier and cleaner environment for the people of Pakistan. To mitigate pollution crisis, the government has also set a target for electric vehicles to contribute 30pc of all vehicle sales by 2030.
—The writer is associated with Department of Defence and Diplomatic Studies, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi.
views expressed are writer’s own.
