Lahore is braced for yet another misty winter as thick sheet of smog has already blanketed the Punjab capital right from the start of October. The air quality index in the city shot up to 214 last week, demonstrating just how the city is in for another ‘festival of darkness’. There appears no remedy to this seasonal affliction that the city dwellers have to contend with. The alarmingly low level of visibility which the smog brings in its wake leads to many road accidents annually, putting lives at perpetual risk. Besides, exposure to smog can cause respiratory disease like asthma, flu, cough and bronchial infections, besides allergies and heart problems.
Lahore has had this somber distinction of being ranked the second most polluted city in the world last October when its AQI ranking shot as high as 328. Schools in the provincial capital had to be closed for two days in November for this particular reason. Several Lahore residents had then filed petitions against the Punjab government over “putting lives at risk by downplaying the severity of air pollution”. Since then, the city has been regularly topping the AQI chart for its lowest air quality. Last month, the Punjab government decided to launch a programme worth Rs200 million meant to fund the conversion of brick kilns to environmentally friendly zigzag technology, and fining industries that are a source of rising air pollution levels. However, the reappearance of smog in the city speaks of the government’s failure to curb the menace of smog.
It’s no secret that running vehicles, industrial emissions, and burning of crop stubble are the main factors contributing to air pollution that appears in the form of smog. The authorities are thus required to come up with a comprehensive programme to manage vehicular emissions, promote the use of eco-friendly products, and introduce ways and means for recycling.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2020.
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