Cabinet approves new clean air policy

The federal cabinet approved Pakistan’s first clean air policy to stem the rising pollution. Sources said that a new clean air policy will be launched from Islamabad and industrial units will be shifted out of the city from sectors I-9 and I-10.

Federal Ministers Khawaja Asif, Rana Sanaullah, Sherry Rehman, Aminul Haq and Ahad Cheema have been tasked to finalise the nitty-gritty details of the new clean air policy and submit it to the federal cabinet within two weeks. After the approval, the clean air policy will be launched from Islamabad and industrial units will be shifted out of the city.

Chambers, business centres, IT parks and offices will be allowed to be built on vacant land of the industrial units. The policy aims to reduce air pollution in Pakistan, improve air quality, reduce annual deaths, improve citizens’ health, enhance economic activity and ensure food security. Pakistan was the third most polluted country in the world in terms of air pollution in 2021.

Lahore and Karachi are the most polluted cities in the Air Quality Index 2022-23. Air pollution has become a serious environmental and health problem in Pakistan. In 2019, 235,000 people died due to air pollution in Pakistan. Air pollution has reduced the average life expectancy in Pakistan by average 2.7 years.

According to the World Bank, air pollution in Pakistan caused an economic loss of US$ 47.8 billion in 2013, which is 5.88% of the GDP. All losses can be reduced through technical and administrative measures taken under the new policy.