Karachi faces rising levels of pollution, smog

KARACHI: The issues of air pollution and smog have set the alarm bells ringing in Karachi. According to the chief of the Climate Action Centre, Yasir Hussain, the air quality in Karachi has been deteriorating due to the constant burning of fossil fuels. He said that vehicular emissions account for 60 per cent to 70 per cent of the aerial pollution.

The air quality index of Karachi surpasses 300 during winter. The pollution accounts for over 100,000 deaths in Pakistan annually. The deteriorating air quality reduces four years of human life on average. According to the researchers associated with Chicago University, such alarming levels of environmental pollution in any area reduce the average age of their inhabitants by 3.75 years. According to the World Health Organisation, up to seven million people die every year due to diseases linked to environmental pollution. Pakistan has been badly affected by smog for the last ten years, but this time the phenomenon started much earlier, in the last week of October. The temporary measure of enforcing the Green Lockdown in Punjab is an insufficient step to tackle the issue of pollution. No-vehicle zones in the cities must be established across the cities. Likewise in Karachi, the air quality was found to have deteriorated on Monday. As per the readings obtained from the air quality monitors deployed by the private organisations, the air quality index of Hawkes Bay and PECHS was above 150, that of Light House, Saddar, and adjoining areas was over 130, and the air quality index of Orangi Town was over 100, Yasir Hussain said. Pakistan imported petroleum products worth US $73 billion in the last five years. The motorcycles in the country consumed petrol worth $ 15 billion in the last five years and accounted for up to 69 per cent of the pollution. Such widespread use of motorcycles is due to the lack of public transport facilities in the city.