In the heart of winter, the skies of Lahore and other major cities in Pakistan are shrouded in a thick, toxic haze. It’s smog season, and this has become an annual tragedy. The irony? This isn’t just a crisis born from neglect; it’s a glaring indictment of decades of systemic failure, lack of accountability, and a refusal to take meaningful action.
Pakistan’s smog problem has reached alarming proportions, with cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala routinely ranking among the world’s most polluted. But let’s be honest — this isn’t about rankings. It’s about lives. It’s about the children who grow up wheezing, the elderly whose lungs fail them, and the workers who struggle to breathe as they carry out their daily routines. Yet, despite this health catastrophe, our response to air pollution has been pitiful, driven more by shame over global rankings than genuine concern for public health.
A History Of Lip Service:
The seeds of our environmental crisis were sown long ago. Since the promulgation of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance in 1983, successive governments have failed to prioritize environmental wellbeing. Commitments have been made on paper, policies drafted, and programs initiated, only to be abandoned or left toothless due to lack of funding, political will, or expertise.
In 2007, we even had a countrywide Clean Air Program, facilitated by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It was a hopeful moment — a chance to address the root causes of air pollution systematically. But what came of it? Repeated failures led to the formation of commissions and committees, each more ineffective than the last.
Fast forward to 2023, and we have a Clean Air Policy. Will it succeed where its predecessors failed? History tells us not to hold our breath — though that’s becoming increasingly difficult in our smog-laden cities. If the Clean Air Policy of 2023 falters, we can rest assured that the Pakistan Clean Air Initiative for 2030 is already being drafted.
A Culture Of Denial And Misdirection:
Rather than facing the crisis head-on, our authorities have mastered the art of denial and scapegoating. For years, Environmental Protection Departments (EPDs) have published manipulated air quality numbers to downplay the severity of the issue. Citizens who use personal air quality monitoring devices to reveal the truth have faced harassment and bullying.
And when the data becomes undeniable, the blame is conveniently shifted elsewhere — most notably to India. We’ve heard it before: the smog is caused by stubble burning across the border, and we are mere victims of our neighbor’s agricultural practices. While stubble burning does contribute to the problem, the carbon emissions from such activities are minuscule compared to the unchecked burning of hydrocarbons right here in Pakistan.
Factories and furnaces in areas like Sheikhupura and Saggian Road run on rubber tires and old shoes after dark, spewing toxic smoke into the air. The government and EPA officials conveniently turn a blind eye, aided by bribes that reportedly amount to Rs25,000 or more per furnace per day. Farmers, meanwhile, are an easy scapegoat, blamed for a problem they did not create.
The absurdity of this blame game is evident when we consider the geographical realities. Lahore, a city that is not surrounded by rice-growing areas, suffers some of the worst smog. If stubble burning were the primary cause, rural areas like Narowal, Sialkot, and Gujranwala would choke long before Lahore does.
Smog: A Health Crisis Larger Than COVID-19:
The health impacts of smog are catastrophic, dwarfing even the devastating toll of COVID-19. While the pandemic was a temporary crisis with clear solutions like vaccines, air pollution is a permanent fixture in our lives. It is a silent killer, linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths annually.
Research after the Great London Smog of 1952 revealed the long-term consequences of air pollution, particularly on children. Expectant mothers exposed to polluted air were more likely to have children predisposed to asthma and other respiratory diseases. Imagine the impact of Pakistan’s air quality on the generations growing up in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Karachi.
But it doesn’t stop at respiratory issues. Unsafe drinking water and other environmental hazards compound the problem, creating a vicious cycle of illness and poverty. This isn’t just negligence; it’s criminal.
Misguided Solutions:
In the face of this crisis, the government’s proposed solutions have ranged from impractical to downright laughable. Wet road washing, artificial rain, and smog towers have been paraded as answers, but these measures are mere distractions. They don’t address the root causes of air pollution and do little to alleviate the suffering of millions.
Instead of investing in effective solutions like clean energy transitions, stricter industrial regulations, and urban planning reforms, we are content with quick fixes and empty promises. Meanwhile, non-specialists and laypersons are entrusted with critical environmental decision-making, further exacerbating the problem.
A Call to Action:
The smog crisis is not an insurmountable challenge. Countries like China and India have shown that significant improvements in air quality are possible with the right policies and enforcement. Pakistan must prioritize the following:
- Regulation and Accountability: Enforce strict penalties for factories and industries that violate emissions standards. Root out corruption in regulatory bodies to ensure compliance.
- Clean Energy Transition: Invest in renewable energy sources and phase out fossil fuels. Incentivize the adoption of cleaner technologies in industries and transportation.
- Public Awareness and Advocacy: Educate citizens about the dangers of air pollution and involve them in grassroots initiatives to demand change.
- Urban Planning and Public Transport: Develop efficient public transport systems to reduce reliance on private vehicles, a major source of urban air pollution.
- Sustainable Agriculture: Support farmers with subsidies and training to adopt sustainable practices, reducing the need for stubble burning.
The time for complacency is over. Smog is not just an environmental issue; it is a public health emergency that demands urgent and sustained action. If we fail to act now, we are condemning future generations to a lifetime of suffering, all for the sake of short-term convenience and profit.
Let us not wait for another commission, another policy, or another crisis. The air we breathe—and the lives it sustains—depend on the choices we make today.
Saima William serves as the Program Lead for Climate Action at the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) in Pakistan, a position she has held since January 2023. Her expertise lies in climate action, with a focus on mitigation and adaptation strategies in areas such as solid waste management, climate resilience, renewable energy, and climate policy reforms.
With a master’s degree in psychology and over 15 years of experience in the development sector, Saima has participated in numerous international trainings on UN advocacy, disaster response, and sustainable development. She places a strong emphasis on capacity building, particularly working with local governments to enhance climate resilience.
Her diverse portfolio includes writing articles, blogs, investigative pieces, proposals, and training materials on issues like advocacy, gender, minority rights, and climate adaptation. Saima is deeply committed to social and environmental justice, with a focus on empowering marginalized communities through policy advocacy, strategic initiatives, and capacity building.