Air pollution levels near Punjab’s capital city Lahore and nearby towns reached their worst level last week.
The air quality index, measuring levels of PM 2.5, tiny particulate matter in the air, exceeded 500, which is a lot more than the 300+ level that qualifies as ‘Hazardous’.
Punjab’s Education Minister, Murad Raas declared that all schools will remain closed across several cities due to the poor air quality.
It has also been advised by the Education Minister that schools should not plan any outdoor activities till December 20th, 2019 due to the worsening air quality.
“All children to wear air filter masks during School hours,” said Mr Raas.
In 2017, Air pollution contributed to almost 5 million deaths globally which is nearly 1 in every 10 according to report.
Medical practitioners along with activists protested in front of a public hospital in Lahore to raise awareness for the smog crises.
More than 5,000 doctors and the general public have signed a demanding the government to take quick action.
According to Amnesty International warmer temperatures, a direct result of climate change creates an environment for smog formation and can lead the air to stagnate – preventing dirty air from leaving an area.
Causes of air pollution in Punjab
Punjab has many challenges due to which air pollution over the last few years has constantly increased.
These range from traffic smoke, dust, and industrial emissions.
In a press conference, the Government of Punjab put forward plans that will be introduced to combat the ongoing issue.
Finance Minister of Punjab, Hashim Jawan Bakht said that more than 40 billion rupees will be spent on the green development of the state.
“The major reason for air pollution is cars, buses, rickshaws and public transport. We will introduce a zero-tolerance policy where some time will be given to people to get their cars fixed after which they will not be classified as roadworthy,” said Mr Bakht.
Federal Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam speaking at a organised by Sustainable Development Policy Institute said that the major factor affecting air quality is “transport sector followed by crop burning and waste burning and emissions from brick kilns and steel furnaces.”
"We also have a cross-boundary issue with India, especially related to crop burning, which requires a regional approach for redressal," added Mr Aslam.
According to a published by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the contribution of the agriculture sector to smog in Punjab is through the practice of crop residue burning. This is a significant amount but only attributes to one-third of the air pollutant percentage.
The major portion of total air pollutant emissions come from the transport sector which holds a 43 percent share, followed by 25 percent from the industrial sector and 20 percent from agriculture.
There is something very wrong when the air becomes so toxic that you cannot breathe without hurting yourself.
Facts and figures
report states that in 2017, annual PM2.5 exposures were highest in South Asia.
The estimated air pollution’s health toll in countries across the globe in 2017. According to which air pollution is estimated to have contributed to about 4.9 million deaths (8.7% of all deaths globally).
Based on these calculations the report estimates that more than 128,000 people die annually in Pakistan which is directly attributable to air pollution.
In another published in 2015 by the medical journal Lancet, 22 per cent of annual deaths in Pakistan each year are caused by pollution, which approximately equates to 310,000.
The State of Global Air 2019 report further suggested that there would be an increase in life expectancy among the 11 most populous countries if PM2.5 concentrations were limited to the .
Based on these projections it was estimated that Bangladesh would have the highest expected gain of nearly 1.3 years, followed by India, Nigeria, and Pakistan with gains of about 1 year of life expectancy.
According to an analysis conducted by the earlier this year, the average Pakistani’s life is being reduced by two years who live in the most polluted areas of the country.
Pakistan has been ranked among the top five countries for having the worst air pollution. Lahore and Karachi are among the top five most polluted cities in the world according to and .
Human rights violation
Amnesty International has criticised the Pakistani government for putting people’s lives at risk.
“The government’s failure to protect people from exposure to hazardous air in Punjab risks violating their human rights to life and health,” Amnesty International said in a .
“The high level of smog is neither a new problem nor one that came without warning. The government of Pakistan needs to do much more to adequately address such a severe public health crisis - one that endangers people’s health and even their lives,” said Rimmel Mohydin, South Asia Campaigner at Amnesty International.
“There is something very wrong when the air becomes so toxic that you cannot breathe without hurting yourself. The government can no longer afford to waste time while people are choking to death,” Mr Mohydin further added.
Public Outcry
People living in Punjab and across Pakistan took to social media to vent out their feelings with some emotional and heart touching messages.
Yaseen Ali writes that he moved to Pakistan and was perfectly fine but is now suffering from stage 3 lung cancer.
