All cities in Pakistan suffer from air pollution to some extent, but Lahore is now leading the list. Once known for its lush green gardens and clear mornings, the city is persistently recognized as the “world champion of pollution,” with its position fluctuating from 1st to 5th but remaining in the top 10 throughout the year. The news of being at the top of the list of cities with the worst Air Quality Index (AQI) is no longer just a red flag or a warning, but an admission of the bitter reality that residents of Lahore are suffocating and are in the grip of a permanent human tragedy.
Misconceptions About Seasonal Pollution
The biggest misconception among policymakers and the public is that air pollution is perhaps only a problem of the winter season, while the reality is quite the opposite. Poor air quality in Lahore and other cities of the country has now taken the form of a comprehensive and permanent crisis, which is poisoning our bodies throughout the year. The public wakes up only when smog starts stinging our eyes, although those toxic pollutants that remain invisible are our silent killers throughout the year, and citizens do not even realize what air pollution crisis they are facing.
Transport Sector: The Main Culprit
The Urban Unit’s annual report on this air pollution crisis repeatedly makes it clear that the transport sector is responsible for 83 percent of Lahore’s air pollution. These figures are screaming that unless we fix our transportation system, this air pollution cannot be cleaned up. Despite this, the entire government strategy is reactive. When smog exceeds the limit, schools are closed for a few days, water is sprayed on the roads by water cannons, and a few smoke-emitting vehicles are fined. These measures are like giving a cancer patient a headache pill.
Need for Long-Term Solutions
The Punjab government and administration will now have to move away from ad hocism and take long-term and planned decisions. The first step is to bring a revolutionary change in the public transport system. Until ordinary citizens have access to sustainable, affordable and fast public transport, they will continue to bring their inefficient motor vehicles onto the roads. The country must fully shift towards an electric transport system and provide incentives for this purpose. The fuel quality used in vehicles operating across the country will also have to be improved to meet global standards in order to limit toxic plumes.
Flexible Policies and Industrial Regulations
Upgrading refineries and making Euro-5 or better fuel mandatory is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Along with this, factories that are emitting toxic fumes in the middle of the city and on the outskirts must be forced to install modern scrubber technology; otherwise, their closure is the only way out. To get Lahore, along with other cities in the country, out of the air pollution crisis, a master plan is needed that goes beyond temporary measures such as green lockdowns and encompasses traffic engineering, an emergency tree-planting campaign and modern methods of garbage disposal instead of burning it. Slogans such as Clean Punjab and Plastic Free Zone are great, but they require long-term, sustainable and economically viable measures that remain noticeably absent.
Public Health Emergency
The bad air quality crisis is not just an environmental problem in Pakistan, but has become the biggest public health challenge, one that is not only putting a burden on hospitals but is also causing a decline in average human life expectancy. India’s atmosphere is often blamed for the poor air quality in Pakistan’s major cities, while at other times there is an attempt to divert attention through irresponsible statements by the administration. But the real issue is one of competence in dealing with devastating challenges, and that competence is nowhere to be seen. The role of the government should not be limited to mere announcements. According to the Constitution, the protection of the lives of the people is the main responsibility of the government. At present, not only is the entire Punjab under the severe test of water scarcity, poor air quality, heatwaves and food insecurity, but the entire country is also waiting for an impending flooding crisis due to intense global warming. The graph of disease spread has gone up considerably. Yet the question is: what actions are the federal and provincial governments taking?
Learning from Beijing's Success
A Punjab government with a budget exceeding five thousand billion should not be so utterly helpless. If it lacks an implementation plan, it should learn from its neighbours. The best role model in this regard is Beijing, China, whose air pollution index had reached a historic record of 900, but which is now a city with remarkably clean air. Lahore is slightly smaller than Beijing in both area and population. So, what measures allowed Beijing to face such a big challenge and achieve success? China launched the Green Belt Project, under which more than 350 million trees were planted and forests were grown around Beijing and other cities so that the air could be cleaned. China is now converting its deserts into green spaces through the Great Green Wall project initiated in 2024. In Lahore and its nearby districts, however, trees are continuously decreasing. Whether it is private housing societies or other projects, all of them are contributing to the decline in green spaces. The lack of green urban spaces is increasing air pollution, which cannot be countered by government green advertising campaigns alone. The public must also adopt sustainable behaviours that collectively provide benefits to the present and future generations.
Attiya Munawer is an activist and environmentalist. She covers human rights and politico-environmental issues. She tweets @AttiyaMunawer and can be reached at attiabutt121@gmail.com
