ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body on Wednesday took up the prevailing issue of smog, especially in Lahore, which was having serious repercussions on citizens’ health.

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change was presided over by chairperson Senator Seemee Ezdi who emphasised the challenges posed by fog in urban areas.

Officials from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination provided the committee members with a comprehensive briefing on various aspects of fog, including its formation, types, frequency in winter and the related issue of smog. The briefing covered its types, causes and impact.

Senator Farooq Hamid Naek explained that while fog was a natural phenomenon, human activities contributed to the formation of smog. He stressed the need to implement measures to combat smog, particularly in areas like Lahore.

Human activity contributed to formation of smog, says senator

The ministry clarified that both carbon-intensive industries and general pollution contributed to smog. It was conveyed that 45pc of smog was attributed to vehicle emissions.

In discussions about the way forward, the ministry emphasised key factors, such as enhancing fuel quality, implementing mandatory annual certification for vehicles, promoting clean energy and sustainable transportation, adopting cleaner agricultural practices, improving waste management, raising public awareness and education and implementing urban forestation.

Additionally, the ministry suggested installing smog towers as a potential solution, citing their successful installation in China and ongoing efforts in India.

The ministry affirmed that Living Indus had been selected from among 150 applications for the World Restoration Flagship of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and this achievement was commended by the committee members.

Furthermore, the ministry also briefed the committee on the Living Indus initiative, emphasising its aim to restore the ecological health of the Indus basin within Pakistan.

They highlighted extensive consultations with the public sector, private sector, experts and civil society, resulting in a comprehensive list of 25 preliminary interventions.

These interventions focused on water and flood management, resource mobilisation finance, social inclusion, knowledge base and legislation, pollution control, agri-forestry and biodiversity.

The ministry informed the committee that the financing strategy for Living Indus would concentrate on international support, public finance, community involvement and public-private partnerships.

Moreover, former Senator Nisar Memon provided a detailed briefing on the new convention on Delta Unite (The Convention on Conservation of Deltas).

He highlighted the challenges of the Indus River, emphasising that the real issue lay in surface and groundwater, posing a regional and global challenge.

He pointed out that livelihoods, including agriculture, fishing and livestock rearing had been adversely affected, leading to various social issues such as poverty and healthcare concerns.

In general, he commended the Living Indus initiative and expressed appreciation for the Senate team’s active participation in COP 28. The meeting concluded with the chairperson’s suggestion to emphasise climate change in policy-making and foster public awareness to discourage use of plastic.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2024