CHOKING CITY: LAHORE'S BATTLE WITH SMOG

Abstract

Lahore, one of the most industrialized and concreted cities of Pakistan with the highest population density is experiencing severe smog, which has created environmental problems. Scattered smoke is a result of vehicular exhaust, industrial discharges, and farming biomass burning, whereby meteorological and geographical conditions; especially from October to December make the situation worse. Air pollution in Lahore results in large health risks, including respiratory and cardiovascular ailments, foremost mental health disorders, and potential learning gaps with higher consequences on sensitive groups. The socio-economic impacts are also worst which include productivity loss, pressure on the health facilities, interruption of school sessions, and a drop in tourism. The poor are most heavily impacted, particularly those living close to industrial zones. There is also action taken to stop smog such as the Punjab Clean Air Action Plan and Lahore Smog Control Ordinance but the enforcement has been poor because of financial and infrastructural constraints. Awareness programmes and technology applications including those for air quality demonstrate a potential but challenges include; expensive and scarce resources. Strategies and tactics can consist of sharper regulation of emissions, the extension of the monitoring networks, the introduction of financial enticements and incentives for sustainable farming, and more extensive overall public awareness programs. The other important thing, which should be the activities of concern to help solve the problem, is cooperation with other countries and using their experience of how they manage to control air pollution successfully in other cities.