Environmental emergency: Deadly smog blinds Punjab
Provincial authorities lack the means to collect accurate in-depth data on the province’s bad air quality
PHOTO: FILE
LAHORE:
Punjab has a troubled past marred with scores of environmental emergencies over the years. To fix it, we must understand the magnitude of the problem in question. It is unavoidable that we have the means to collect accurate data on the issue to strategize an effective mitigation plan for the province.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, environment department officials revealed they have insufficient equipment to monitor the province’s air quality holistically. As a result, provincial authorities lack the in-depth statistics needed to develop a comprehensive action plan to tackle the crisis.
“Currently, there are only six functional air quality monitoring centres in the province,” Environment Protection Department Director Naseemur Rehman said.
Smog soars to alarming level in Lahore
“Two of these are in Lahore and one each is located in Gujranwala, Multan and Faisalabad. The sixth one is a mobile centre and additional support is obtained from the Met department in Lahore,” he added.
In an ideal situation, Punjab would have six times as many such facilities, according to him.
“To effectively monitor air quality all over the province, we would need 30 fixed and five mobile monitoring centres,” Rehman said, adding “these would be installed across Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, DG Khan and Sargodha for optimum coverage.”
The senior official revealed that the government has taken no steps towards procuring more monitoring systems so far.
A policy to deal with smog was outlined in 2017 and a detailed report on air quality in the province was submitted to the Lahore High Court in May the following year. However, lack of credible in-depth data has been the biggest hurdle in devising an effective master plan to combat the crisis.
Experts complain zero data is available at the public level, making it nearly impossible for non-government stakeholders to come up with any plausible suggestions or proposals.
At present, deterioration in Punjab’s air quality has hit alarming levels. Data shared by the environment protection department states that the air quality index for the province currently stands at 240 with a shocking 492 recorded at Wagah.
The Pak Air Quality Initiative report states that air pollution decreases life expectancy by 60 months and causes around 135,000 deaths annually. The report also noted that smog in Punjab increases in intensity from October, corresponding with the drop in temperature.
The environment department has highlighted several causes for the recent increase in air pollution across Punjab. Industries, brick kilns, burning of crop waste and construction activities are some of the factors they have pointed out. The department has also drawn attention towards the rise in motor vehicles and load shedding- which prompts many to run generators- as other causes for deteriorating air quality.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Punjab Environment Protection Minister Muhammad Rizwan insisted he had directed several measures to control the smog in the province.
Lahore’s air quality still ‘hazardous’
“I imposed a ban on brick kilns operating without zigzag technology in mid-November. It is still in place. The traffic police is taking action against vehicles emitting excessive smoke and the environment protection department is taking action against [noncomplying] factories,” he said.
Agriculture (Extension and Adaptive Research) Director General Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali said the agriculture department has banned the burning of crop waste.
“Cases were registered against 244 farmers for violating the ban. Our actions have significantly decreased this environmentally harmful activity,” he added.
Environmental experts warn that Punjab can no more enjoy leverage; it needs a swift and effective plan to overcome this deadly crisis.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2019.
Punjab has a troubled past marred with scores of environmental emergencies over the years. To fix it, we must understand the magnitude of the problem in question. It is unavoidable that we have the means to collect accurate data on the issue to strategize an effective mitigation plan for the province.
Speaking to The Express Tribune, environment department officials revealed they have insufficient equipment to monitor the province’s air quality holistically. As a result, provincial authorities lack the in-depth statistics needed to develop a comprehensive action plan to tackle the crisis.
“Currently, there are only six functional air quality monitoring centres in the province,” Environment Protection Department Director Naseemur Rehman said.
Smog soars to alarming level in Lahore
“Two of these are in Lahore and one each is located in Gujranwala, Multan and Faisalabad. The sixth one is a mobile centre and additional support is obtained from the Met department in Lahore,” he added.
In an ideal situation, Punjab would have six times as many such facilities, according to him.
“To effectively monitor air quality all over the province, we would need 30 fixed and five mobile monitoring centres,” Rehman said, adding “these would be installed across Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, DG Khan and Sargodha for optimum coverage.”
The senior official revealed that the government has taken no steps towards procuring more monitoring systems so far.
A policy to deal with smog was outlined in 2017 and a detailed report on air quality in the province was submitted to the Lahore High Court in May the following year. However, lack of credible in-depth data has been the biggest hurdle in devising an effective master plan to combat the crisis.
Experts complain zero data is available at the public level, making it nearly impossible for non-government stakeholders to come up with any plausible suggestions or proposals.
At present, deterioration in Punjab’s air quality has hit alarming levels. Data shared by the environment protection department states that the air quality index for the province currently stands at 240 with a shocking 492 recorded at Wagah.
The Pak Air Quality Initiative report states that air pollution decreases life expectancy by 60 months and causes around 135,000 deaths annually. The report also noted that smog in Punjab increases in intensity from October, corresponding with the drop in temperature.
The environment department has highlighted several causes for the recent increase in air pollution across Punjab. Industries, brick kilns, burning of crop waste and construction activities are some of the factors they have pointed out. The department has also drawn attention towards the rise in motor vehicles and load shedding- which prompts many to run generators- as other causes for deteriorating air quality.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Punjab Environment Protection Minister Muhammad Rizwan insisted he had directed several measures to control the smog in the province.
Lahore’s air quality still ‘hazardous’
“I imposed a ban on brick kilns operating without zigzag technology in mid-November. It is still in place. The traffic police is taking action against vehicles emitting excessive smoke and the environment protection department is taking action against [noncomplying] factories,” he said.
Agriculture (Extension and Adaptive Research) Director General Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali said the agriculture department has banned the burning of crop waste.
“Cases were registered against 244 farmers for violating the ban. Our actions have significantly decreased this environmentally harmful activity,” he added.
Environmental experts warn that Punjab can no more enjoy leverage; it needs a swift and effective plan to overcome this deadly crisis.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2019.