Flood may aggravate smog

Environmentalists fear adverse impact on South Punjab, big cities

LAHORE:

Punjab may face an aggravated smog problem during the peak season in the aftermath of this year’s flood in a vast region, environmentalists have warned.

Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Dera Ghazi Khan are expected to be engulfed by smog in the coming months because of a number of factors, including the prolonged inundation.

Air pollution in Lahore and nearby cities, including Sheikhupura, Kasur and Gujranwala, has already reached an alarming level, causing problems for the citizens especially in the morning. Health experts have also warned of a high risk of diseases linked to pollution during the smog season from the end of the current month.

An environmentalist cautioned that the flood was set to increase the intensity as well as expanse of smog. Almost the whole province may be affected, especially the districts hit by the flood.

“Our country, especially Punjab, is passing through a worst phase of air and water pollution. The alarming thing is that we face the worst ever season of smog that may for the first time engulf almost the whole province, especially the South Punjab districts that suffered the horrible flood this year,” Punjab University Geo Sciences Faculty Dean Dr Sajid Rashid Ahmed told The Express Tribune.

Floodwater is still present in many parts of South Punjab, where Multan, Rajanpur and Dera Ghazi Khan districts were hit by the flood, he said.

Floodwater on ground or underground at a level near the surface will be absorbed by the land at a lower rate in the winter season, while its evaporation will create dense smog in the area, he added.

Dr Ahmed said wind and rain could clear an area of smog in such a situation.

The areas of South Punjab had usually remained free of smog in past years but the flood and increasing air pollution had made them vulnerable, he said.

Lahore figured in air quality ranking as the most polluted city of the world earlier this week.

“Lahore that was amous as a city of gardens is among the 10 most polluted cities of the world. The situation has remained similar for the past decade,” said Punjab University Integrated Mountain Research Director Dr Munawer Sabir.

“Surely this year too we will face the worst smog and the recent flood in the province is also a big factor. Beside Lahore,many parts of Punjab will be in the grip of smog in this season,” he added.

“It is a tragedy that in the whole world people enjoy the season when the winter starts but we in Lahore suffer due to the smog due to activities causing environmental damage,” he said.

Dr Sabir said the country’s policy makers and universities were also responsible for not focusing on research and steps to counter smog.

He said he had done an experiment of artificial rain in Muree and Khanspur, but not received ample support from the administration.

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital’s former medical superintendent Dr Abdul Basit said, “In this season while environmentalists are demanding measures to cope with the situation, there is also need to inform the people about diseases caused by smog.

Our hospitals should make arrangements for higher number of patients in the coming days with chest infection, breathing problems and eye diseases.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 20^th, 2022.