Several days after the chief justice of the Lahore High Court ordered the provincial EPD and health department to chalk out an emergency plan to be implemented stringently each time air pollution in northern Punjab reached hazardous levels, there is no evidence this is happening. The orders were issued as Justice Mansoor Ali Shah heard a petition brought forward by citizens under Article 9 of the constitution, seeking protection of life and security. After air quality readings using monitors brought to the courtroom were presented to the judge he held that an emergency existed and should not be ignored. The monitors recorded levels for the dangerous PM2.5 particulates to be over 500 outside the courtroom and over 300 within it. Levels over 300 are considered dangerous for health. Other air toxins also showed high levels. Among other measures the court had ordered daily publication of data from official air monitors. This has not happened yet. Nor have the concerned departments stated if they are working on other proposals that came up during the court hearing as possible components of a holistic action plan. These included steps to restrict smoke emitting vehicles, control emissions from factories and brick kilns, eliminate crop burning and possibly close schools when air quality warranted such a measure both to protect children and to reduce cars on the roads. One possible reason for the general inaction despite the LHC ruling is the complacency that has set in after recent rains in Lahore. While these have, for now, driven away smog – the most obvious sign of air pollution – experts point out that levels of dangerous particulate matter remain high and continue to rise steadily. These levels are still not out in the public domain, with the media too having lost interest. Few studies exist on the longer-term impact of air pollution. But the air quality for Lahore and other cities in the province remain among the worst in the world, making it imperative that the LHC orders be acted on and a plan for both short and long-term action put in place without further delay. On a national level too, we need to treat climate change issues with the seriousness they deserve.
