Governments of both — India and Pakistan — need to clear the air about the steps being taken to tackle the harmful effects of ‘toxic’ air that the residents of both countries are breathing
Lahore: Delhi and Lahore — the smoggiest cities of ’em all. Without rain for two months, Lahore saw its air quality index (AQI) touching the dangerous level of 450 tiny particulate matter (PM2.5) on December 16, 2023. It was 30 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended maximum average daily exposure and considered hazardous.
As a result, the Punjab Government had to declare a ‘smog emergency’ in Lahore and nearby districts. Schools were shut, markets closed and face masks were made mandatory. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, the government made arrangements to induce artificial rain in Lahore to provide temporary relief from the hazardous effects of poor air quality.
Artificial rain was induced in an attempt to lowering pollution levels in Lahore. The Punjab Government used cloud seeding to create rain in 10 locations around the city using a small Cessna plane with UAE’s cooperation. Citizens experienced shower-like rain in different locations. Environment Minister in Punjab, Bilal Afzal, claimed that cloud seeding and artificial rain was introduced for the first time and it was a success. He, however, admitted that the rainfall was minimal and scanty. He felt elated that due to this the air quality of Lahore improved significantly and the AQI dropped to 150 PM. However, the minister also said that the benefits of this rain were short-lived as the pollution was back to square one after two to three days.
Read More: Revolutionary Step: Punjab Govt Initiates Pakistan’s First IT City in Lahore
Hazardous air quality is not limited to Lahore. India’s capital city — Delhi — ranks ahead of it. Both cities top the list of most-polluted cities of the world.
This “toxic” air that we are breathing is now transcending borders and affecting many lives. Smog is a common cause for concern, as nationals of both — India and Pakistan — are severely affected. The citizens of both countries are breathing the same toxic air, which is causing severe health issues. The situation is only getting worse with each passing year.
In response to the alarming and dangerous situation, the Delhi Government in India also reportedly considered the implementation of artificial rain to counter smog, but it could not bring it to fruition. The Aam Aadmi Party government in India’s national capital also derived an odd-even formula for vehicles to ply in order to reduce pollution level, but there was no data to prove the efficacy of the experiment as well.
IIT Kanpur, a premier institute in India, undertook an experiment last year, wherein a Cessna aircraft was flown from its flight laboratory with cloud-seeding attachments. “These attachments were procured from a manufacturer in the US and the modifications in the aircraft were approved both by the manufacturers of Cessna and DGCA. The test flight spread the agents using a flare as is standard practice,” the institute had revealed in the release.
The Global Alliance on Health and Pollution estimates that every year, air pollution steals 9 million lives, 2% of GDP and 7% of healthcare costs. It also reported that 128,000 Pakistanis die annually due to air pollution-related illnesses.
An air quality life index study suggests that since 1998, average annual particulate pollution has increased by 20 per cent, cutting 0.9 years off the lives of the average Pakistani resident over these years. The most-polluted areas of the country are in northeast Punjab and northern Sindh, where residents would gain over five years of life if particulate pollution could be permanently reduced, according to WHO guidelines.
Punjab, be it in the Indian side or that in Pakistan, starts experiencing periods of low visibility from October onwards and this continues till February. This is commonly referred to as smog (combined from smoke and fog). The intensity, duration and spatial extent of these events have increased over the last few years. Smog causes severe health problems such as burning and irritation of the eyes and other respiratory problems. Prolonged or heavy exposure to hazardous air causes various complications such as asthma, lung damage, bronchial infections, stroke and shortened life expectancy.
Dr Atif Kazmi, a senior consultant dermatologist at Lahore University Teaching Hospital (UOL), says smog causes serious damage to health. He advised citizens to avoid coming in contact with smog, as it can cause breathing difficulties and infections. He said wearing face masks and staying inside are the two easiest ways to avoid rushing to hospitals with respiratory issues, eye infections and skin diseases.
Considering growing concerns regarding smog and its serious effects on health, the Lahore High Court took cognizance of the fact and constituted a ‘Smog Commission’. After considerable discussions and thorough research, this commission submitted its reports to the High Court, which identified an interesting fact. The report stated: “The Indo-Gangetic Plains, composed of the Indus (areas in Pakistan and parts of Punjab and Haryana in India) and the Gangetic Plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal in India, Nepal and Bangladesh (Figure G.6), have been identified as one of the most-polluted regions due to high aerosol concentration and a related episode of haze, fog and smog.”
Delhi and Lahore — the smoggiest cities of ’em all
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.