LAHORE: The air quality in Lahore continues to deteriorate, reaching hazardous levels despite the recently imposed smart lockdown and ongoing efforts by the Punjab government.

The city, already ranked among the most polluted cities in the world by IQAir, has been grappling with severe air pollution for weeks, adversely affecting the health of its residents.

The Punjab government had implemented a smart lockdown from Nov 24 to 26 aimed at curb the sources of pollution, including vehicular smoke, crop burning, and emissions from India’s coal plants. The lockdown had the secondary objective of preventing the spread of conjunctivitis, a common eye infection caused by exposure to smoke, dust or chemicals. However, the air quality index (AQI) remained alarmingly high even after the lockdown was lifted.

According to data from IQAir, on Nov 27, the AQI of the city fluctuated between 288 and 418 throughout the day, solidifying its position as the most polluted city globally.

The bad air quality has adverse effects particularly on those suffering from asthma, diabetes, lung diseases, heart diseases and cancer. Studies from the Centre for Disease Control indicate that air pollution can increase the risk of these conditions and reduce life expectancy. On average, a Pakistani’s life is reduced by two years due to pollution while Lahore residents face a staggering reduction of five years.

The citizens have taken to social media and other platforms to express their concerns and frustrations at the smog crisis, sharing personal experiences of its impact on health, education and livelihoods. Some have initiated petitions and campaigns to raise awareness and demand action from the government and other stakeholders.

Environmental experts and activists urge the government to implement more effective and long-term measures to address the root of smog. Recommendations include implementing a low emission zone, promoting public transport and renewable energy, banning the burning of crop residues and garbage and enhancing regional cooperation to tackle transboundary pollution.

The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) is actively involved in comprehensive cleaning operations, including mechanical sweeping, scraping, and washing conducted in three shifts, including night operations. Its CEO Babar Sahib Din emphasized the dual-shift approach to protect the citizens from smog’s adverse effects, with special scraping activities and water spraying at city entrances and exits.

In a recent meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Punjab Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman announced the formation of a working group to execute the project of artificial rain in Lahore. The working group comprises representatives of the relevant federal, provincial departments and military organisations. The group will explore cloud seeding and cloud ionization methods for artificial rain with the first trial expected in four to six weeks.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a Dubai-based company for cloud ionization is in its final stages and a team of experts will visit China for the feasibility of installing smog reduction towers in Lahore.

Despite these efforts, the smog crisis in Lahore persists, underscoring the need for comprehensive and sustained measures to address the root causes of air pollution in the region. Citizens, activists, and experts continue to call for urgent action to safeguard public health and the environment.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2023