The writer is a development anthropologist. He can be reached at ali@policy.hu
The air quality index (AQI) is an internationally accepted measure of pollution levels. When AQI values go above 100, the quality becomes unhealthy, particularly for sensitive groups, but if AQI values are higher it becomes unhealthy for everyone. According to the air pollution and city rankings by AirVisual, a well-known air pollution app, AQI values in Lahore are well over 300.
Our government still lacks adequate and reliable air monitoring capacity. The air-monitoring equipment in the existing stations around Lahore, for example, has fallen into disrepair. The plan to create 30 more air quality monitoring stations in different cities across the province also remains pending. Given the government’s lethargy to develop a robust air monitoring system, we either must rely on external measures, or else refer to crowd-sourced air quality data provided by entities like the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI).
The increasing alarm around deteriorating air quality in Lahore is heightened in the winter months. However, the air quality for the rest of the year is hardly enviable. The PAQI estimated that Lahore had only two days of good air quality in 2017.
The LHC formed a 13-member smog commission this past year and there is talk of a provincial level entity being created as well to deal with what has become a major health concern.
Trash and crop burning, brick kilns, industries and traffic emissions and diesel powered small generators are identified as main factors causing smog in Lahore and adjoining areas. Indian crop burning, especially, from Punjab does make its way to Pakistan. Crop burning however happens on our side of the border too. India is trying to spend money to provide farmers mechanical implements that would help manage crop residue, similar measures must be adopted in our rural areas as well.
For now, a temporary ban has been placed on burning crop stubble and rubbish. A handful of arrests have been made but people burning trash is not hard to find nor are visibly polluting vehicles plying on the roads. We desperately need to explore options to bus children to school, besides implementing more effective measures to test and curb vehicular emissions.
The Punjab government decided to close brick kilns for four months across the province, but the move was resisted and now the plan is to delay the closure till November 3. However, shutting down brick kilns is also a stopgap arrangement, which makes life even harder for highly indebted labourers. Brick kilns are exploitative and environmentally damaging, and they deplete needed agricultural topsoil. However, shutting down brick kilns without making alternative arrangements for its workforce or thinking about alternative construction materials is hardly practical. Pakistan has signed on to a project aiming to reduce black carbon and other pollutants from brick kilns and transform the sector into a healthier and more socially responsible industry. But the project has not yet been able to change how the 20,000 brick kilns across the country operate. This project, or others like it, which aim to take a more holistic view of the problem and deliver tangible results, should be given priority so that temporarily banning brick production does not remain the only option.
While Lahore’s situation is particularly alarming, Karachi and other major cities like Faisalabad also have serious air pollution problems. The health cost of this pollution is growing and will become unbearable if the situation doesn’t change.
Our situation is not hopeless, however. Five years ago, Beijing’s air quality had gone over 750 AQI and nowadays it hovers under 100 AQI. A long-term and consistent approach is needed to deal with this problem. Sporadic and half-heartedly measures being put in place during the winter months, or what is now become known as smog season, will not suffice.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2018.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ