KARACHI:
The city of gardens, Lahore, has once again ranked as the most polluted city in the world. Its air quality is deteriorating to hazardous levels and aggravating the smog problem, which has disrupted daily life and poses a serious health risk for citizens. Since the start of December, the city began experiencing intense levels of smog because of which the Punjab government imposed an environmental emergency. Schools and private offices will close thrice a week.
However, most people will still be required to leave their homes for either work or other purposes. Therefore, closing down offices is not a permanent solution. Many people are facing difficulty in breathing, coughing, suffocation, eye irritation, etc. Smog can also intensify other serious health issues including the risk of cardiac arrest. There is also an increased risk of vehicular accidents due to poor visibility.
Instead of being nonchalant as always, the provincial government should impose a ban on burning crop residues and act against brick-kiln owners who are still using old firing techniques that are harmful to the environment. Given that many cities of Punjab face this issue annually, the provincial government must take concrete measures to address the problem. Citizens should be urged to not burn waste and avoid using their private vehicles as much as possible and instead resort to public transport to reduce air pollution.
Anika Asim
Lahore
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2022.
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