Air quality rapidly deteriorates

Lahore back on top of most polluted cities’ list

LAHORE:

The smog situation in Lahore worsened on Monday with the air pollution level rising drastically as compared to the previous day in several areas.

The Canal Road, Ravi Road, Ring Road, Shairakot, Sagiyan Bridge, Darogha Wala and Thokar Niaz Baig were the areas most affected by the smog as the city recorded the worst air quality in the world.

In view of the situation, the Punjab government alerted all departments concerned, including the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), environment protection department, Environment Protection Agency, city traffic police and transport department to gear up to the maximum level their efforts to curb smog.

The pollution level worsened on Sunday night and Lahore topped the list of most affected cities in the world with the US Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 510.

The most hazardous level of smog forced the citizens to remain at home.

According to a Punjab Environment Protection Department official, a 100-point increase in the air pollution level as compared to Sunday was recorded at the Canal Road. “The AQI at the Canal Road was 312, up from 213 recorded earlier. The AQI at the Punjab University Environment and Law College increased from 196 recorded on Sunday to 260,” Deputy Director Farooq Alam said.

Rawalpindi’s AQI had risen to 173 from 154, he added. “The worst effects of the smog were witnessed in the morning and evening hours. The government should deliberate on preventive measures to avoid a situation like the previous year when the schools in Lahore had to be shut due to the smog,” a senior official of the environment department told The Express Tribune.

“The situation is critical but our departments are getting embroiled in debating whether it is fog or smog at a time when the whole world is telling us that we are living in the most polluted city,” he added.

He said the upscale areas and suburban localities were badly affected and the thousands of motorcyclists were among the citizens afflicted with health problems caused by smog.

The official said the failure of the traffic police and WASA to fulfil their responsibilities was evident in the city as thousands of vehicles causing pollution were plying on the roads and water had not been sprinkled on the roads to prevent dust from polluting the air. The AQI level recorded in the city is deemed hazardous for human health by the international environment and pollution monitoring agencies.

The environment protection department recorded air quality levels ‘very unhealthy for sensitive groups’ of the people. A large number of people in the province were suffering from chest infection, cough, eye diseases, flu and skin problems.

Punjab University Geography Department Director Dr Munawar Sabir said, “We should now accept that we have ruined our environment by cutting trees and converting agriculture land into housing societies. We are not willing to change ourselves and there are a number of housing societies around the city where construction work continuing.” “We see thousands of vehicles with substandard engines, while factories are burning tyres and tubes to generate energy. We are residents of dirtiest places where we cannot feel the fresh air,” he added.

He urged the provincial government to organize a meeting with environmentalists, academics and representatives of the civil society to frame a joint strategy to cope with the smog.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2023.