Call for reining in greenhouse emissions

Pakistan is one of the top three countries accounting for highest deaths due to ambient air pollution

While commemorating the International Day of Clean Air for blue skies, Fair Finance Pakistan (a network of over 100 Asian civic societies) launched an online campaign on Twitter to raise public awareness regarding air quality in the country.

This year’s theme, ‘The Air We Share’ focuses on the trans-boundary nature of air pollution and highlights collective actions to reverse the effects of air pollution. It aims to aware people that air pollution is a silent public health emergency in Pakistan and kills over 128,000 people annually.

Pakistan is one of the top three countries after China and India accounting for highest deaths due to ambient air pollution (smog). Millions of people in Pakistan are forced to breathe air that contains high levels of hazardous pollutants. As a result, people suffer from strokes, heart diseases, lung cancer and acute respiratory infection.

World Air Quality Index 2021 ranked Pakistan as the third most air polluted country in the world and cities like Lahore, Faisalabad and Peshawar were amongst top 15 most polluted cities in the country. As one of the countries on the frontline of the climate crisis, Pakistan faces grave consequences in failing to address climate change resulting in increasing frequency, intensity and duration of adverse weather events including extreme temperatures, droughts and flooding.

The campaign calls on the policy circles, commercial banks, businesses and civil society to promote responsible investments in the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2022.