Amid persisting smog, which has blanketed Lahore, the Punjab’s provincial government has rolled out three-day a week schedule for schools to defend against the health hazards associated with the environmental phenomenon exacerbated by human activity. High smog levels have descended upon all major cities and highways in the country in recent days, badly disrupting the everyday life. A case in point is the frequent closure of the Motorways and other major highways due to reduced visibility resulting from the all-enveloping smog. According to the latest report by iqair.com, which monitors the air quality across the globe, the Punjab’s provincial capital has once again topped the list of the most polluted cities in the world. As such, this week the Lahore city recorded 303 air quality index, while the safe air as per the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines is the AQI US up to 50.
The smog, which is a serious public health issue, is a new form of air pollution and it usually gets worse during winter, notably from October to January, trapping the pollutants in the air for a longer duration. Being the most populated and polluted city of Punjab, Lahore is increasingly facing the issue of smog, which returns every winter with a greater intensity. Major contributing factors are immense traffic pollution, crop burning and industrial activities. Despite directives of the apex court to relevant authorities for devising pragmatic and durable emissions control regulations and programs, the country is yet to brace up for facing the challenge and continuously losing the fight for clean air. Today, most of the smog we see is photochemical smog. Photochemical smog is produced Nitrogen Oxides come from car exhaust, coal power plants, and factory emissions.
The term “smog” is a compound of smoke and fog and it is usually produced when sunlight reacts with Nitrogen Oxides and at least one volatile organic compound (VOC) in the atmosphere. Smog is common in industrialized zones, and remains a familiar sight in major cities. VOCs are released from gasoline, paints, and many cleaning solvents. When sunlight hits these chemicals, they form airborne particles and ground-level ozone—or smog. The Ozone layer in the atmosphere protects us from the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet radiation. But when Ozone is close to the ground, it is considered bad for human health and can damage lung tissue. It is especially dangerous to people with respiratory illnesses like asthma. Ozone can also cause itchy and burning eyes. Alarming as the situation is, the provincial government of Punjab needs to tweak its regulations and take help from renewable energy sources to overcome the health hazard. Besides, the private sector should also shoulder its responsibilities and shift its investment by adopting technologies to reduce carbon emissions.
Only regulations and policies would not be enough for tackling the smog issue. The relevant government departments and agencies should be provided with adequate resources to tackle the causes of the air pollution. Substandard fuel is a major culprit in this regard. Oil refineries, perhaps, can be given incentives and help to improve the quality of petrol and diesel. Most importantly, all the provincial governments, if they want to have a bigger impact on trying to tackle smog and other environmental issues, are required to integrate climate change and its hazardous effects into a new and expanded school curriculum for secondary and higher secondary schools to keep the young generation abreast with the causes and consequences of the not-so-natural phenomenon.
