EVEN though farmers have been burning crop residue for decades, it is only now that the problem has grown so bad in Punjab, especially the provincial capital. Even as recently as a decade ago, there was practically no smog in Lahore, and the city’s weather was touted as being the best in the country. So, what happened?

It is the record increase in the number of industries and vehicles. In most parts of the world, industries are set up in coastal areas. In Karachi, on most days of the year the air quality is not as bad as it is in Lahore. This is because the strong sea breeze drives away the polluted air.

Since we cannot shift Lahore to the coast, the next best thing to do is to shift smoke-emitting industries and factories elsewhere, preferably to the coastal areas of Balochistan. Having said that, it would also help if faulty vehicles are grounded during winter.

Shakir Lakhani
Karachi

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2024