Smog-istan: An existential threat in the air
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With air pollution levels soaring past safe limits, more than seven major Pakistani cities were subject to some form of lockdowns in the past month. The World Bank estimates the annual economic burden of air pollution at around $48 billion, roughly 5.9% of GDP. This translates to healthcare costs, lost productivity and damage to infrastructure and ecosystems.
As polluted air covers crop lands, infiltrates soil and water resources, the quality of fruits, vegetables, and grains suffers. Contaminated produce not only jeopardizes the health of domestic consumers but also renders it less attractive on the international market. In a world increasingly conscious of environmental responsibility, consumers are opting for agricultural imports from countries with cleaner air and healthier soil, which could ultimately leave Pakistan's smog-tainted produce languishing on shelves.
The social and human cost is equally crippling. Children gasp for breath, schools close, and the haze shrouds over both urban and rural lands. The smog is a silent killer, linked to respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and even cognitive decline. The Pakistan Journal of Surgery & Medicine estimates that on an annual basis, 135,000 deaths can be directly attributed to air pollution, making it the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the country.
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has explained that persistent and growing smog over the years is a governance failure. Despite stricter regulations and clean-tech initiatives, progress remains frustratingly slow. The root cause seems to lie in a lack of effective governance. Provincial Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) often lack the vision, capacity, power and resources to enforce regulations effectively. Bureaucratic inefficiencies, the lack of coordinated effort between district administrations, and weak political will further make the fight against smog challenging.
This lack of effective governance hurts each province differently. In Punjab, the smog originates from a combination of industrial emissions, crop burning, and vehicular pollution. Sindh faces a similar battle, with the industrial hub of Karachi a major contributor. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa grapples with dust storms, the burning of solid waste and unregulated brick kilns, while Balochistan’s Quetta suffers from unchecked and poor quality fuel being used in transportation and household use.
The disruption in political dialogue between India and Pakistan, has meant that regional cooperation on air pollution and related environmental objectives is non-existent.
Vaqar Ahmed
Given Pakistan’s global climate and environmental commitments, the buck stops with the federal government, which needs to empower and resource provincial EPAs. The Council of Common Interests (CCI) will have to declare an emergency with all provinces reporting data on both: supply side measures such as holding vehicles and manufacturing industry owners accountable, and demand side measures which promote behavioural change and encourage citizens towards using clean technologies in day to day lives.
Public awareness campaigns, community-led initiatives, and promoting sustainable practices like cycling and public transport are essential. Embracing innovation, from smog-filtering towers to bio-remediation efforts, can also offer tangible solutions. Provincial governments and EPAs can learn from other developing countries that have successfully tackled smog. China, once infamous for its air pollution, implemented stringent regulations, invested heavily in renewables, and promoted electric vehicles. India's National Clean Air Programme is another promising example, focusing on industrial emission control and public awareness. More recently, Pakistan had to request UAE for artificial rain – a capability which is required for several other parts of the country too but can only serve as a second-best solution for this crisis.
In countries that rallied behind initiatives to combat air pollution, a common factor was the presence of robust community voices complementing government actions. Unfortunately, in the case of Pakistan and the broader South Asian region, the arena for civil society organizations (CSOs) is shrinking. Regulatory obstacles and resource limitations have impeded the ability of CSOs to sustain their community-centric efforts. The departure of numerous international non-governmental organizations (I-NGOs), formerly leading environmental education and advocacy, has created a void in the campaign for cleaner air.
The disruption in political dialogue between India and Pakistan, has meant that regional cooperation on air pollution and related environmental objectives is non-existent. This lack of collaborative action hampers the effectiveness of local efforts, as air pollution respects no borders. Transboundary smog transcends political divides, rendering individual nation-state responses limited and potentially futile. This could mean missed opportunities for joint response and cross-border air monitoring.
Delaying action is not an option. The smog is not just a health hazard; it's a threat to Pakistan's economic competitiveness, its social fabric, and its very future. A recent New York Times article warned of the possibility of Pakistani cities becoming unliveable.
What is at stake? For current generations, the smog is a daily struggle, a silent thief robbing them of health, productivity, and well-being. For future generations, it's a potential inheritance of a ravaged environment and compromised health. The cost of inaction is not just economic; it's existential.
- Dr. Vaqar Ahmed is an economist, former civil servant, and recently led disaster preparedness efforts in flood prone areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in Pakistan.
