THE people of Lahore have their life tenure slashed by five years due to hazardous air quality, as reported by the University of Chicago. Once the city of vibrancy, Lahore now has a dubious distinction for being a city with one of the worst air qualities in the world.

As one of the most populated cities in the world, Lahore has expanded four times its size in the last two decades due to migration. Migration not only brings people but also vehicles, causing air and noise pollution. The Air Quality Index in Lahore at one point this year went up to 440. For reference, the worst possible is 500.

Taking a stroll in the city, one finds a thick layer of dust covering trees that line Lahore’s streets and its famous gardens. All around the city, visibility is low. The smog makes it hard to breathe, even with a mask.

Smog is caused by various air pollutants which are introduced to the environment by burning the low-grade fuel and crop residue along with the general waste on roadsides. Brick kilns play a detrimental role in emitting toxic smoke. Also, the burning of stubs of crops and the smoke emitting from vehicles cause the particles to suspend in the air.

Poor fuel quality and furnace oil used to produce power in thermal power plants add to the menace. Unfortunately, Lahore is surrounded by at least eight thermal power plants, including Sahiwal coal power plant, which uses coal. Pakistan adopted the Pak-2 fuel quality standards in 1998, but uniformity in implementation has never been evaluated.

Beijing can be a role model. Twenty years on, Beijing’s air quality has improved substantially, and the lessons learned to provide a roadmap for other cities tackling air pollution, Lahore in this case.

Beijing’s air quality management system is supported by monitoring and evaluation, pollution source apportionment and emission inventories, all of which seem missing at home. It also contains comprehensive legal standards and strict environmental law enforcement.

Air quality work is supported by economic policies, public participation, and coordination on air pollution prevention and control in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Coal-fired pollution control and vehicle emission controls are the keys.

Beijing was once as polluted as Lahore is today. To put it in a layman’s language, the people of Lahore can be thought of as living in a big cylinder of toxic gases piercing into their eyes, nose and lungs and cutting short their lives.

However, if you have visited Beijing lately, you would have found it hard to believe that this city used to have one of the worst air qualities in the world. Lahore can do what Beijing has done already.

Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world today. Beijing has shown what is possible; their efforts benefit health, sustainable development, our shared climate, and far outweigh the cost of doing nothing.

In Pakistan, hazardous air quality is forcing the government to shut down schools, students and teachers are falling sick and restraining outdoor activities, especially in big cities. Online classes must be a permanent option to reduce a load of traffic on the roads.

Improving the fuel quality, planting trees and using advanced scrubbers will gradually improve the air quality and will be the first step towards ‘smog-free’ Lahore.

The government envisions the import of Euro-4 oil, and converting petrol buses to electricity and CNG to guarantee less air pollution. Oil refineries have already been given three years to improve their technologies for a better refining process. Loans will be offered to convert kilns on the zigzag technology and, lastly, to import machinery that would uproot the crops residue and plant more trees in Lahore. But these need to be more than mere words on paper.

Individually, using carpooling or hybrid cars, stopping burning waste material and focussing on planting more trees can help. To combat irritation, headaches and discomfort, in the short run wear the recommended masks and go outside only when it is necessary because of the pathetic smog-like condition. Inaction is criminal now. Remember. Beijing, too, was once Lahore!

Muhammad Ali Falak
Texas, USA

BLOCKING ROADS: Recently, I remained stuck on a road for a while because of a marriage-related function that was being celebrated right there on the road. Blocking the roads on account of festivities is a very common practice in society which should be strongly discouraged. One’s happiness should not act as a source of discomfort, inconvenience and agony for the others.

Imran Sheikh
Sargodha

WATER TANKERS: Heavy vehicles and water tankers, which were previously allowed on roads only after 7pm, have been allowed to commute during the day in view of water shortage in the city. Unfortunately, due to the negligence of traffic police and practices of reckless drivers, water tankers have become a threat to daily commuters as accidents involving them have become a regular occurrence. The relevant authorities should restrict the movement of heavy vehicles during the day.

Abrar M. Peshbeen
Karachi

CUTTING TREES: A month ago, thousands of trees on the banks of Kobri Minor, which were of great benefit to the locals, were chopped down because of a construction project. The shadow and the oxygen supply ensured by these trees were a major factor for the people, especially young students. The relevant authorities should renew the plantation drive in the area.

Abdul Aziz Noohpoto
Khairpur Mirs

VILLAGE HOSPITAL: The hospital in Walgun Sohail village is in a shambles. Medical essentials, including equipment and medicines, are just not there. There is no check-and-balance system in place. The infrastructure needs serious repairs. The village is far from any urban centre, and taking patients to a city hospital in cases of emergency is impossible. The government should take notice of the poor condition of the hospital and direct the health department to make it at least functional. The authorities should also ensure the availability of doctors, medical supplies and equipment in the hospital round the clock.

Zaha Batool
Nankana Sahib

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2022