Time to act against smog

Most areas in Punjab and Sindh provinces are now enveloped in dense fog. In most cities of Punjab the fog has combined with smoke and soot to produce smog which has not only reduced visibility but is also hazardous for human and animal health and agriculture and has an adverse impact on the environment as a whole. Smog is a type of air pollution mainly produced by vehicle and factory emission. Further, combustion of coal and wood together with buildup of certain weather conditions is another cause of smog. It has become an annual weather event in cities of Punjab. When something becomes regular it no longer remains an anomaly but a grave issue which calls for serious action. Remedial measures are necessary because smog causes deadly, dreaded and debilitating diseases. It also causes birth defects and low birth weight, besides increasing the chances of accidents. Since it is common knowledge that there is little check on vehicular and industrial emission and the quality of motor vehicle fuel in the country, the situation could only be expected to worsen with time. So there is an urgent need to control vehicle and factory emission and ensure the quality of fuel. For these purposes, there should be proper laws and their proper implementation. Smog can also be cut by banning or reducing the use of coal in energy production and go in for renewable energy and for environmentally-friendly products. Smog can also be decreased by driving less at night.

The worsening of smog in cities of Punjab province is also attributed to the burning of crop stubs in Indian Punjab as the resultant smoke is driven by wind into Pakistan. Indians have developed the technique of producing compost from crop stubs to combat the menace. Why can’t we develop the same technique? 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 26^th, 2018.

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