Combating growing smog problem

Despite recurrence, solutions remain elusive, with govt relying on ad hoc steps

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan grapples with an escalating air pollution and smog crisis during the dry, cold months from November to January each year. In central Punjab, the situation has deteriorated significantly over the last decade, often bringing life to a standstill during extended dry spells.

Despite the annual recurrence, effective and sustainable solutions remain elusive, with the government relying on ad-hoc measures whenever smog thickens. Smog, a regular occurrence in cities like Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala, is forgotten once the air clears, leaving the country unprepared for its inevitable return.

While advanced nations have mitigated smog through scientific approaches, Pakistan has yet to adopt such strategies effectively.

Smog – a combination of smoke and fog – is primarily caused by temperature inversion during cold, still weather. This phenomenon traps warm air beneath a layer of cooler air, creating a platform for suspended particulate matter to mix with water vapour and smoke.

The result is thick, polluted air that disrupts daily life by reducing visibility, affecting transportation, harming public health, and damaging biodiversity.

Industries, vehicular emissions, solid waste burning, and brick kilns are primary contributors to this environmental crisis. Pakistan's continued reliance on low-grade Euro-2 diesel fuels exacerbates the issue.

Notably, 43% of smog is attributed to emissions from outdated transport systems. Additionally, the recycling industry, which uses degraded fuel to power urban steel and iron units, worsens the problem.

Air pollution is particularly severe in urban areas due to concentrated sources of emissions and limited ventilation. In contrast, rural regions benefit from open spaces and natural air dilution, which mitigate pollution levels.

Global successes

Smog is not unique to Pakistan. In the 1950s and 1960s, industrialised nations like the US, UK, and Japan faced similar challenges as a byproduct of rapid industrialisation. These countries implemented robust air quality monitoring systems, introduced stringent regulations, and enforced compliance to reduce air pollution.

For instance, Europe's strict air quality standards and continuous monitoring have drastically reduced smog. By replicating such strategies and leveraging lessons from these success stories, Pakistan can combat its air pollution crisis effectively.

Pakistan is already a member of various international forums under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Initiatives like the Clean Air Asia programme and the Male Declaration on transboundary air pollution provide frameworks for collaboration and resource-sharing. Under the Male Declaration, South Asian nations, including Pakistan, committed to monitoring and sharing air quality data.

Pakistan established two air quality monitoring stations near the Indo-Pak border in Bahawalpur (Punjab) and Tharparkar (Sindh). However, since the initiative's fourth phase ended in 2013, this monitoring system has remained dormant.

Reviving the Male Declaration and ensuring consistent data sharing could significantly enhance regional cooperation and accountability.

Widespread impact

Smog impacts nearly every aspect of life, including health, the economy, and the environment. Prolonged exposure to smog leads to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, while high concentrations of lead and sulfur in the air cause neurological issues. Smog also reduces photosynthesis and stunts crop growth, threatening food security.

According to the World Bank, Pakistan loses $18.9 of its GDP on only one 2.5 unit of particulate matter annually due to poor air quality. The Ministry of Climate Change reports 128,000 air pollution-related deaths each year.

In the 2024 Environmental Performance Index (EPI), Pakistan ranked 179th out of 180 countries with a score of 25.5. The EPI ranks countries based on their efforts to improve environmental health, enhance ecosystem vitality, and mitigate climate change.

Smog disrupts ecosystems and biodiversity, reducing the planet's resilience against climate change.

Although federal and provincial environmental protection agencies (EPAs) are responsible for enforcing air quality regulations, these organisations lack the capacity and resources to fulfil their mandates.

Inadequate air quality monitoring equipment, weak enforcement mechanisms, and insufficient collaboration with law enforcement further exacerbate the problem.

Environmental tribunals, which are critical for prosecuting violators, often remain non-functional due to procedural delays or the absence of necessary quorum. Even when cases are processed, fines imposed on polluters are negligible, failing to deter violations.

The transportation sector remains the largest contributor to smog in Pakistan. Despite the existence of National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), regular vehicle emissions testing is not enforced.

Sporadic fines for smoke-emitting vehicles are insufficient to address the scale of the problem. Without a robust regulatory framework and its consistent enforcement, vehicular emissions will continue to exacerbate smog.

Way forward

Addressing air quality monitoring and control requires innovative approaches and collaboration among a variety of stakeholders. To tackle this environmental challenge effectively, it is essential to identify and list both polluters and regulators at all levels.

Awareness campaigns through smart community mobilisation initiatives can play a pivotal role in engaging the public. Designing incentivised community involvement programmes that ensure sustainable participation and a clear division of responsibilities across geographical areas is critical.

Building the capacity of stakeholders based on their roles in pollution control and monitoring is equally important. Revising regulations to encourage power-sharing with communities and enabling their open-ended enforcement can enhance the effectiveness of air quality measures.

Mandatory annual vehicular emission testing and strict monitoring must be implemented, while economically viable and socially acceptable alternatives to pollution sources, including transport, industry, construction, solid waste, and agricultural waste burning, should be identified and promoted.

Agricultural waste, for instance, can be managed through anaerobic digestion rather than direct burning. Policymakers must devise strategies that are both implementable and aligned with measurable, achievable objectives.

It is time to introduce electric vehicles not only to meet Pakistan's commitments under the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development but also to reduce the foreign exchange burden caused by soaring oil imports.

These collective measures, supported by strategic planning and robust execution, can pave the way for sustainable air quality management in Pakistan.

THE WRITER HOLDS A PHD IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH NATIONAL AND REGIONAL AIR QUALITY MONITORING AGENCIES