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Punjab’s Smog Crisis: Business Disruptions, Health Risks, and Calls for Long-Term Solutions
Relief after rains clear Punjab’s smog, but health impacts persist as millions face respiratory issues. Experts urge long-term solutions to prevent this recurring crisis.
ND
by News Desk
2024-11-29
Punjab’s Smog Crisis: Business Disruptions, Health Risks, and Calls for Long-Term Solutions

A 45-year-old blue pottery business owner in Multan, last week marked a rare moment of hope after a prolonged period of intense smog. For over three weeks, the region had been engulfed by thick, toxic air, severely disrupting daily life and business activities. Orders were cancelled, transport delays compounded costs, and visibility remained dangerously low.

 

As Manzoor's business suffered, so did residents across Punjab, the country's most populous province. With a population of 127 million, Punjab has been plagued by severe air pollution, particularly in cities like Multan and Lahore, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpassed alarming levels, with Multan reaching over 2,000 and Lahore hovering above 1,000. Lahore’s air quality has fluctuated between “very unhealthy” and “hazardous” levels, leaving residents with burning eyes, sore throats, and difficulty breathing.

 

Raja Jahangir Anwar, Punjab’s Environment Secretary, attributed the unprecedented smog to various factors, including lax construction regulations, poor fuel quality, and the burning of rice crop residue, a common practice for preparing fields for the upcoming wheat sowing. Combined with the colder, drier air in winter, these conditions have made smog a recurrent winter threat.

 

Farmers like Hasan Khan from Kasur have also been hit hard. Delays in labor transport and the blocking of sunlight due to the thick fog have hindered agricultural activities. Khan described how the smog affected plant growth and stressed the need for sunlight to support crop production. The ongoing environmental crisis has left people scrambling for solutions.

 

In response, many residents called for artificial rain, a method used last year to tackle the smog. This process involves releasing chemicals like silver iodide into the clouds to induce rainfall. However, Anwar clarified that cloud seeding requires specific weather conditions, and such efforts only work when there is at least a 50% chance of precipitation. On November 15, favorable weather allowed cloud seeding over parts of Punjab, and by November 23, the first winter rains arrived, helping clear the smog and offering brief relief.

 

However, cloud seeding remains controversial. Experts like Dr. Ghulam Rasul, former head of the Pakistan Meteorological Department, cautioned that while it may offer temporary relief, it does not address the root causes of the smog. Over-reliance on such methods, he argued, could worsen the situation by creating dry conditions, which may exacerbate fog and smog in the future.

 

The government’s response included easing restrictions once the air quality improved. Shops, restaurants, and schools were allowed to reopen, while bans on construction work, brick kilns, and heavy transport were lifted. In addition, air quality monitors were installed around Lahore to track pollution levels. However, the damage caused by the weeks of smog is not easily undone. Over 1.8 million people sought medical treatment for respiratory issues, with 5,000 asthma cases reported in Lahore alone. Experts predict more health problems, including respiratory infections and heart diseases, in the coming months. UNICEF has also warned that 1.1 million children under the age of five are at heightened risk due to exposure to the harmful air.

 

Despite these short-term measures, critics argue that the government’s approach is insufficient. Imran Khalid, a climate governance expert, referred to the government's anti-smog plan as a "hodgepodge of general policy measures" without any long-term, sustainable solutions. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive, year-round strategy to address the region’s pollution. Dr. Anjum Altaf, an environmental scientist, echoed this sentiment, calling for a detailed action plan that addresses the root causes of air pollution and involves local communities in its implementation.

 

For many, the ongoing smog crisis is a reflection of misplaced priorities. "When there is political will, significant change is possible," said Aarish Sardar, a Lahore-based educator, referring to the government's swift action on previous health crises like dengue. As the smog problem persists, many are calling for the same level of urgency in tackling air pollution.

 

With health risks continuing to rise and the long-term environmental impact unknown, the people of Punjab are left waiting for decisive action that can clear the air for good.

 
Tagged:

AirPollution

ClimateChange

SmogCrisis

PunjabSmog

LahoreAirQuality
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