In Focus
Lahore’s smog problem: What is the problem and why has it been recurring?
Rohini Reenum

What happened?
On 3 November, the air quality index, which measures/quantifies the level of air pollution, crossed the 1000 mark in Lahore. This is considered both “dangerous” and “unprecedented.” Director General of the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency Punjab Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh termed this breach “critical air pollution event” in Lahore. On the same day, local government authorities in Lahore ordered the closure of all schools for a week, anticipating no improvement in the extremely poor air quality that has persisted over weeks now. Speaking at a news conference, Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb highlighted that “winds from India coupled with local factors” have contributed to this situation. Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had hinted at the possibility of approaching the Indian Punjab chief minister to tackle the problem collectively. 

What causes the smog problem? Why is it recurring?
First, a combination of natural, local and cross-border factors. There are several factors that contribute to the smog problem and most of these factors/events are recurring in nature. For instance, local factors include “low-grade diesel fumes, smoke from seasonal agricultural burning, and winter cooling.” While the problem of diesel fumes and agricultural residue can be tackled to an extent, “winter cooling” is a natural phenomenon. Dust from construction, transportation and brick kilns further exacerbate the smog problem. However, completely stopping human activities like construction or transportation is neither feasible nor economically desirable. Additionally, Pakistan has consistently claimed that winds from India contribute to the smog, especially in Lahore. Speaking about the recent spike in air pollution, senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated that “The wind from India towards Lahore…is taking the smog to dangerous levels and the wind is likely to sustain its direction for at least next week.” Even if this is true, there is very little that Pakistan can do unilaterally to tackle the issue.

Second, the inadequate government response. Government responses have mostly been reactive rather than proactive. They have been short-term in nature. For instance, in the current scenario, the government has resorted to partial lockdowns, making masks mandatory and closure of primary schools. Apart from the closure of schools, the government has indicated that two more “green lockdowns” can be imposed if the situation does not improve. The government is also planning to “conduct research” and decide whether the current lockdown needs to be extended. Several new restrictions have been imposed in the city’s four “hot-spots”- Tuk-tuks equipped with polluting two-stroke engines have been disallowed and restaurants that barbecue without filters have been banned. Around 550 kilns have already been closed and Marriyum Aurangzeb indicated that if brick kilns and transporters do not follow government directives, the government can come up with stricter regulations, including penalty for violators. She added that “Cases may be instituted against the violators, while they may also be arrested.” Government can also ban construction activities in the future if the situation does not improve. She revealed that all preparations for artificial rain have been made, however, the atmospheric conditions necessary for the process are unavailable as of now. Further, around 1000 super-seeders have been sanctioned to be provided to the farmers at a subsidy in order to deter them from burning crops residue. Old vehicles that emit “excessive” smoke are being taken off the roads. Specialized smog counters have also been constituted in the hospitals. Additionally, plans to introduce an electric mass transport system have been completed.

Third, the cross-border nature of the problem. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has emphasized the need for “climate diplomacy” with India. She has called for a united front against the smog problem. In this regard, Marriyum Aurangzeb has hinted that the Punjab government will urge the Foreign Office to take up the matter with the neighboring country. However, these overtures in the past have not materialized into any concrete joint policy and given the fractured nature of the relationship between the two countries, it is unlikely that any new overture will yield desired results for Pakistan.

What next?
The recent dip in air quality of Lahore is not a novel event. Over the years, Lahore has consistently featured on the world’s most polluted cities list. With a population of around 14 million and the well-documented long-term adverse impacts of air pollution on public health, the need to effectively tackle this problem cannot be overemphasized. What is troubling is that despite government intervention, the problem has persisted and sometimes intensified. What is perhaps needed is a shift from short-term mitigation efforts to long-term planning and preparedness. As an editorial in The News International pointed out that a policy shift is the need of the hour. It suggested that the government “must prioritize a shift towards cleaner energy sources, invest in sustainable public transportation, and enforce stricter emission standards for vehicles and industries.” It also recommended that “viable alternatives” should be made available to farmers before imposing penalties. Further, the government can also be proactive rather than “reactive” and “take steps to improve urban planning, invest in green spaces, and implement regular air quality monitoring with public access to real-time data.” While recognition of “cross-border cooperation” is a welcome development it needs to be complemented with “structural changes” at home and “a strong commitment to environmental sustainability are imperative.”

References
Amjad Mahmood, “Punjab to reach out to India as Lahore chokes,” Dawn, 4 November 2024
“Govt shuts primary schools in Lahore over record pollution,” Dawn, 3 November 2024
“Pakistan, India arrest farmers for burning crop waste as pollution rises,” Dawn, 22 October 2024
“Lahore AQI crosses 1,000 again, govt mulls lockdown,” The News International, 4 November 2024
“Gasping for air,” The News International, 4 November 2024