Smogged air

The smog problem can only be effectively tackled through joint efforts of all countries in the region

In a recent statement, Amnesty International has said the Air Quality Index in Lahore had reached 484 on October 30 and pointed out that the threshold for “hazardous” levels of air quality was 300 when people are advised to “avoid all outdoor physical activity”. The statement based on scientific facts does not need much comment. We can only say the situation is alarming as environmental pollution is increasing by the day affecting air and water quality and overall all aspects of life. Amnesty has warned that the government’s “failure to protect people from exposure to hazardous air in Punjab risks violating their human rights to life and health. During the smog season — October to January — air quality reaches hazardous levels as recorded by multiple, independent sources including the air quality monitors installed by the United States Consulate in Lahore and crowdsourced data collated by the Pakistan Air Quality initiative.” According to a Greenpeace report, in March, Faisalabad and Lahore figured in the top 10 on a list of the world’s most polluted cities in 2018. Most prominent on the list were Indian cities, which took 22 of the top 30 spots.

According to the South Asian campaigner at Amnesty, the high level of smog is not a new problem nor is it one that came without warning. He calls upon the Government of Pakistan to do much more to adequately address such a serious public health crisis as it is endangering people’s health and their lives. Amnesty says that air pollution and climate change crisis are intricately interlinked and that there is something very wrong when people are unable to breathe without hurting themselves. It says there is no room for procrastination and the government should take effective steps against environmental pollution.

Since the smog problem and climate change are inter-connected, it can only be effectively tackled through joint efforts of all countries in the region. For this, we need peace. Don’t let our future go up in smoke.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2019.

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