Lahore, the cultural and historical heart of Pakistan, is currently facing its worst air pollution crisis in years. The city’s air quality has reached an alarming 1,300 on the Air Quality Index (AQI), far exceeding the safe threshold of 50, and has raised serious concerns about the health and well-being of millions of Lahore’s residents. The smog crisis has dominated headlines, with media outlets continuously highlighting the severe risks posed by toxic air. For many of us in the Pakistani diaspora, especially here in California, the situation strikes a deeply personal chord. It's not just news, it's the echo of a place once alive with the pulse of our history and culture. We remember Lahore, one of Pakistan’s most iconic cities, a cosmopolitan hub where the streets hummed with art, and commerce—a vibrant reflection of our shared heritage and culture.
“I still remember my school days, when educational trips to Lahore were the highlight of the year. Lahore was a place of excitement, culture, and heritage—the City of Gardens, the epicenter of fashion and cinema in Pakistan. Now, it’s heartbreaking to see it clouded by such devastating pollution,” shared one expatriate.” The most heartbreaking part is that they are closing schools, stripping away the fundamental right to education, along with the basic rights to clean air and health for children”, he added.
Lahore's current AQI has made global headlines, but Pakistan faces a much broader and urgent climate crisis. The country is ranked fifth globally in terms of climate vulnerability and faces severe risks from flooding, heatwaves, droughts, and air pollution. The World Bank warns that climate change could shrink Pakistan's GDP by up to 20% by 2050. Extreme weather events, like the 51° Celsius heatwave in May 2022, have become significantly more frequent due to climate change. Pakistan now also faces some of the worst air pollution in the world. On average, air pollution reduces life expectancy in the country by more than four years, with some regions experiencing a loss of up to seven years. Water insecurity is also worsening, with per capita water availability dropping drastically since 1951, while 60% of the population lacks access to clean water. Food insecurity affects 40% of the population, worsened by climate-related disasters, with millions at risk of acute food shortages. Pakistan also faces severe waste management issues, contributing to high plastic pollution. Immediate action is needed to address these interconnected ecological and social crises. Given the gravity of Pakistan's climate crisis, it becomes crucial to examine not only the government's commitment to addressing these challenges but also the international partnerships, such as the one between Punjab and California, that aim to address these issues on a global scale.
Punjab and California share several similarities, particularly in their agricultural sectors. Punjab, often referred to as the "breadbasket" of Pakistan, plays a central role in the country's food production, much like California's crucial role in the United States' agricultural output. This common agricultural heritage laid the foundation for deeper cooperation, leading to a formal sister-state partnership between the two regions as a great achievement on the diplomatic front.
While both regions share agricultural roots, their environmental challenges differ significantly. Currently, Sacramento, California's capital, enjoys an air quality index (AQI) of 55, considered "Good," while Lahore has recently faced a hazardous AQI of 1,300. California's improved air quality is the result of decades of dedicated, comprehensive efforts, not a quick fix
On February 17, 2022, California and Punjab had solidified this connection, an initiative spearheaded by Assembly member Chris Holden and former Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar. The resolution, which received unanimous support from all 36 members of the California State Assembly, aimed to promote mutual trade, and commerce, and strengthen educational, environmental, and cultural ties. Both Pakistani and Sacramento media outlets extensively covered Holden's statement, “A sister-state relationship between California and Punjab, Pakistan, would foster mutual trade and commerce while enhancing opportunities for educational, environmental, and cultural exchanges.”
While both regions share agricultural roots, their environmental challenges differ significantly. Currently, Sacramento, California's capital, enjoys an air quality index (AQI) of 55, considered "Good," while Lahore has recently faced a hazardous AQI of 1,300. California's improved air quality is the result of decades of dedicated, comprehensive efforts, not a quick fix. Central to these efforts is the California Air Resources Board (CARB), established in 1967, which has led the charge in addressing the state’s air pollution challenges. One of the earliest milestones was the introduction of the nation’s first tailpipe emissions standards in 1966, a direct response to the severe smog crisis driven by automobile exhaust in cities like Los Angeles. Pioneering research by Dr Arie Haagen-Smit in the 1950s identified vehicle emissions as a major contributor to smog, which led to the implementation of more stringent regulations. Over the years, CARB has introduced a series of groundbreaking measures to reduce air pollution, including the catalytic converter in the 1970s, onboard diagnostics in 1988, and zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) regulations in 1990. The passage of the 1970 federal Clean Air Act further bolstered California's authority to set its own, more stringent standards, solidifying the state's position as a global leader in air quality management. In the 2000s, CARB expanded its efforts to address climate change, launching initiatives like the cap-and-trade programme and Assembly Bill 32, which focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With a robust air quality monitoring network in place for over 50 years, California has been able to track progress and continuously refine policies to meet health-based air quality standards.
In contrast, Pakistan has made some strides in tackling its air pollution crisis, notably through initiatives like the National Clean Air Plan (NCAP). The plan focuses on key sectors — transportation, waste management, agriculture, and industry — to reduce harmful emissions. The country has also set ambitious climate goals, including cutting emissions by 50% by 2030 and transitioning to renewable energy. Yet, despite these progressive policies, Lahore’s air quality still regularly exceeds an AQI of 1,300, a level deemed hazardous to human health. This stark discrepancy between policy intentions and real-world outcomes underscores the challenge of translating national strategies into tangible improvements, particularly in rapidly growing urban areas like Lahore, where pollution from vehicles, industry, and agriculture continues to escalate. While Pakistan’s long-term goals are admirable, urgent action is needed to tackle the root causes of air pollution at the local level, where enforcement often lags behind ambitious policy objectives.
This situation serves as a reminder of the 2022 environmental cooperation agreement between California and Punjab, a strategic alliance designed to address critical environmental challenges. Over the course of the past two years, what substantive advancements have arisen from this partnership? Furthermore, it prompts an inquiry into the lessons Punjab has learned from its sister state, California’s exemplary environmental stewardship, and how these lessons can be strategically applied to mitigate air pollution, safeguard public health, and ensure that children have access to education within a healthier, more sustainable environment.