Once a city of majestic gardens and an astonishing blend of Mughal, Colonial and contemporary architecture, Lahore today remains shrouded in an eternal haze. The city, once known for its rich cultural heritage, is now wrestling with a silent exterminator: smog. This stealthy pollutant has transformed the vibrant city of Lahore into a dystopian landscape, where heavy air, filled with toxins, surrounds residents.
Over the past few years, Lahore has been rapidly urbanised and industrialised, due to which the city’s air quality has deteriorated enormously. Lahore is the second largest city of the country and is growing at a rate of 4% annually. This led to the expansion of vehicles in a city without adequate public transportation alternatives along with the rise in industrial activity that led to a significant deterioration of air quality. Just like last year, Lahore has once again been covered by an oppressively chunky layer of smog, which has entirely affected the livelihood of the citizens. Public health is seriously threatened by the declining air quality caused by automobiles spewing pollutants and factories emitting toxins into the sky.
It is important to note that smog is not to be taken lightly, as it poses serious health risks to the people, especially the elderly, children, and those with respiratory conditions. Asthma, allergies, eye infections, respiratory tract infections, and even cardiac diseases are among the deadly health issues that are increasing due to smog. According to a study conducted by Sughis et al., school-going children in Lahore who were exposed to high levels of air pollution had higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This concerning study sheds light on the long-term detrimental impacts on public health.
Earlier this year in January, the Air Quality Index was reported to be at 207 with the primary pollutant as PM2.5, categorizing it as "very unhealthy".
Unfortunately, smog has slowly but surely become the fifth season of our country. The elevated levels of air pollutants are responsible for the formation of this venomous fog during the winter months when temperatures drop and cooler air is traped near the ground, preventing the dispersion of these pollutants. This pressing environmental issue is not only a hazard to human health but also threatens agricultural productivity. In 2022, Lahore was reported as the most polluted city in the world by IQAir (an air quality technology company). Earlier this year in January, the Air Quality Index was reported to be at 207 with the primary pollutant as PM2.5, categorising it as "very unhealthy". Additionally, the concentration of PM2.5 in Lahore is recorded to be almost 32.9 times higher than the annual air quality guideline value set by the World Health Organisation. It reclaimed this title recently when Lahore registered an AQI of over 800, which was the highest ever recorded across the globe.
Furthermore, it is alarming to come across the fact that only 1% of the nation’s industrial firms disclose their emissions, which contribute to the city’s bad air quality. This lack of transparency hinders the efforts to address this pressing issue. The government and industries must join hands to enforce strict laws and adopt sustainable technologies. Children are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of the deteriorated air quality. A study detailing the long-term effects of the Great London Smog of 1952 showed that exposure to smog during the first year of birth increased the chance of childhood asthma by 19.87%.
Now, keeping in view how destructive smog can be, it is essential to take reasonable measures that can help improve the air quality. Due to the lack of funds, consistent procedures, trained staff, and specialised equipment, the majority of environmental regulatory agencies in Pakistan are lagging. The government should begin by allocating necessary funds for implementing nationwide afforestation schemes, monitoring and decreasing harmful emissions, and initiating transitioning towards renewable resources. Given the grim state of affairs, it is imperative that a strict action plan be made and followed to avert negative public health consequences and lessen the financial strain on the country’s health sector.
The government should begin by allocating necessary funds for implementing nationwide afforestation schemes, monitoring and decreasing harmful emissions, and initiating transitioning towards renewable resources.
The public must be informed about the potential health hazards associated with this environmental peril. They should know how to safeguard themselves and avoid aggravating pre-existing medical conditions. Effective measures to guarantee this include the distribution of instructional pamphlets and brochures as well as public service announcements on radio, television, and all social media platforms.
There is a dire need to shift towards the use of sustainable resources to mitigate extreme environmental and public health challenges, particularly those presented by smog in the heart of Punjab. By investing in solar and hydro power, the country can reduce its reliance on fossil fuels which majorly contribute towards smog and global warming. Transitioning towards sustainable energy would not only improve our air quality but will also help Pakistan achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Moreover, this shift will also support SDG number 3, promoting good health and wellbeing by reducing pollution-related health risks, and SDG 7 , ensuring access to affordable reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. By taking appropriate and timely action to adopt sustainable energy, the government can pave towards climate resilience, and eradicate the venom of smog.
This situation is nothing short of a nightmare, a horror tale where a once high-spirited city is now being slowly poisoned and suffocated by its own air. The smog crisis has persisted for more than five years now, but the government has always turned a blind eye towards this environmental hazard, treating it as a temporary crisis over which it has little control. The problem has worsened due to the lack of a comprehensive action plan and the absence of strict environmental regulations. It is high time that the authorities wake up to doom that has engulfed us all. Stricter emission standards for automobiles and factories must be enforced, and the use of clean energy sources should be promoted coupled with the enforcement of vehicle inspection and maintenance programs. Gone are the times for complacency. The future of Lahore hangs on a lariat. Only immediate action can prevent Lahore from choking and restore its former grandeur.