Lahore's suffocating truth

Each year, Lahore chokes under a blanket of smog, transforming a vibrant city into a health hazard. With an AQI often in the "hazardous" range, millions face severe health risks. The root causes are multifaceted: unchecked industrial emissions, crop burning, vehicular pollution and reliance on coal power. However, pinning this crisis entirely on Pakistan oversimplifies a complex, global issue.

Pakistan emits less than 0.9% of global greenhouse gases but is one of the worst affected countries by climate change. This smog is not just Lahore's creation, it's a regional problem: air pollution from India and other areas blows over the city and is held in by the topography. Mountains are like a wall which traps polluted air. This phenomenon underscores a harsh truth: air pollution does not distinguish between boundaries.

The world's largest polluters are the global superpowers and developed countries which burn fossil fuels with impunity. However, Third World countries such as Pakistan are required to contribute to global clean-energy transitions; even as they did not significantly contribute to climate change. As expected, critics have been right to label this as a short-sighted and unfair approach.

Such work as the Human Rights Watch report, demanding Pakistan switch to clean energy, shows an important aim. But they do not say anything about the higher obligations of the developed countries. For Pakistan, coal is still a cheap source of energy in a struggling economy. Direct phase-outs without global backing could severely jeopardise important development.

The result of this smog is devastating. Pollution of the air in Pakistan kills about 128,000 people every year. From respiratory illnesses to chronic heart problems, the cost to human health is staggering.

This smog crisis also reveals latent conflicts of interest. Such an environmental injustice inflicted on cities like Lahore can also be discussed as systemic weaponisation. Excessive emission by the global north affects populations in the global south in a way that creates cyclical vulnerability and instability. For a western audience, this should raise alarm: pollution is not just a matter of the environment, but of geography. The imbalance of pollution load could disrupt some areas economically and socially hence leading to their instability.

The long-term implications extend to Pakistan's economic and social fabric. Smog disrupts daily life, halting economic productivity as schools close and businesses operate at reduced capacity. Healthcare systems, already stretched thin, face a surge in patients with respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

Furthermore, the mental toll of living in a constant haze of pollution is immense, particularly for those with limited access to healthcare. Children growing up in this environment face reduced lung development and cognitive challenges, signaling a long-term generational crisis. Studies have shown that exposure to high levels of air pollution impairs educational outcomes and future earning potential.

Lahore's battle with smog is emblematic of a broader struggle faced by cities in developing countries. The lack of global accountability in addressing cross-border pollution makes it clear that this is not just Lahore's problem. The air does not recognise boundaries, and neither should the solutions. Collaborative international frameworks must address not only emissions but also the transboundary movement of pollutants.

The Government of Pakistan must act decisively by enforcing stricter environmental regulations, promoting green technologies and curbing activities like crop burning. However, without global cooperation and significant financial and technological support, these efforts will remain insufficient. Developed nations, as the primary polluters, must fulfil their moral obligation by reducing their own emissions and aiding developing nations in adapting to and mitigating climate change.

Lahore's suffocating truth is a shared crisis. Without collective action, the annual smog will remain a grim reminder of the environmental and moral failures of our globalised world. Addressing this issue isn't just an environmental imperative - it's a matter of justice and survival.