Parliamentary caucus declares smog national emergency

Senators want environmental reforms in automobile, industrial sectors


News Desk November 16, 2018
PHOTO: EXPRESS

Given the dangerously high levels of air pollution in the country, members of a Senate caucus on climate change on Thursday agreed that the situation relating smog and air quality in the country has reached an alarming level and should be declared a national emergency.

In this regard, the caucus has decided to request the Senate chairman to summon a meeting of the Committee of the Whole on the issue.

The meeting was chaired by Caucus Chairperson Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman at the Parliament House in Islamabad on Thursday.

‘Govt adopting measures to combat smog’

The meeting was given a comprehensive briefing on smog and air quality in the country, its causes and possible remedies by environmental law expert and environmental activist Ahmed Rafay Alam and his team.

The caucus was told that the appearance of smog in the months of November and December does not mean that the alarming air pollution levels subside for the rest of the year. Alam added that air pollution manifests itself as smog during the cold weather months.

They added that the causes of smog are not limited to crop burning, industry fuels, construction materials, car smoke among other factors.

The caucus expressed determination to take all due measures in changing the energy policy of the country in maintaining a check on the industry and automobile sector and bring environmental reforms in these sectors.

Smog prevention: EPD extends brick-kilns closure date

It was agreed that in relation to air quality control there is little that can be done at the individual level and strong policy measures will prove more meaningful.

The caucus was told that lung cancer and other serious respiratory diseases can see an increase as a result of increased smog and air pollution.

The need to give a measured policy response instead of a panicked one and the importance of installing smog degree measuring meters across the country was stressed upon.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16th, 2018.

COMMENTS (1)

Salman khan | 5 years ago | Reply But pakistan is agreed to build 12 Coal power plants on cpec built with help of china. China itself has tendence towards renewable energy sources and wants pakistan polluted through coal plants. Pakistan needs to go after renewable energy sources as well and demolish the existing coal and thermal power plants except nuclear.
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