Outsmarting smog

After years of being blanketed in smog almost every winter, Punjab has finally come up with a comprehensive plan to tackle the problem. The ‘Chief Minister Punjab’s Roadmap for Smog Mitigation in Punjab 2024-2025’ presents a comprehensive list of sector-specific measures to counter the smog problem in Punjab – revolving around a total of seven sectors including agriculture, transport, industrial, environment, health, education and energy. Some of the key measures being rolled out under this plan include the provision of 1000 super-seeders to farmers in Punjab, the launch of 5,000 electric buses across the province, an internship programme for young graduates to tackle smog and promote sustainable practices, a ban on tire pyrolysis plants, the adoption of zig-zag technology, the installation of five carbon sinks and the provision of 50,000 solar panels to individual homes.

It is clear from the direction of the programme that a heavy emphasis is being placed on transitioning towards cleaner and more sustainable technologies. This is a good direction to go in and recognizes the fact that many in Pakistan have no choice but to rely on polluting technologies due to financial constraints. While the plans outlined in the roadmap are quite ambitious, even achieving some of the targets would mean significant progress against what is becoming a very serious threat to the wellbeing of the people. Smog is indeed a very serious problem in Punjab, particularly during the winter months where it becomes almost impossible to see during days of thick smog, disrupting transport and threatening people’s health. Lahore in particular has become notorious in recent years for its smog problem and has featured more than once as the worst city in the world in terms of air pollution. Air pollution has reached such high levels across the country that it is literally reducing the life expectancy of Pakistanis. If anything, comprehensive action on this issue has long been delayed. That being said, the roadmap also highlights the fact that the Punjab government has not exactly been idle when it comes to the smog problem. It had already adopted a proactive stance to reduce the smog back in April, well in advance of the smog season. The plan targeted high emission sectors such as brick kilns and industrial units to ensure compliance with regulations and will also focus on smog-seasons actions to minimize smog levels during the peak periods.

The challenge for the programme going forward will be rigorous implementation. This has been the most obvious downfall of most ambitious policy agendas in Pakistan since it requires stability and transparency, two things that the country has sorely lacked. While there are plenty of carrots in the smog mitigation roadmap, this does not mean that the stick can be discarded altogether. Accurately and reliably monitoring and targeting polluting industries, vehicles and agricultural practices will be crucial to the policy’s success and are indeed key parts of the roadmap. It is hoped that these regulations will not be as easily ignored as so many other rules are in Pakistan.