Lahore has had the dubious distinction of topping the daily ranking of the city with the worst air pollution compared to other cities across the globe. Beating Shanghai and New Delhi, both of which are far larger in terms of population and geographical spread, is no mean feat.
The toxic smog has become a calamity in light of which, the Punjab Relief Commissioner, Babar Hayat Tarar, proposed a ban on vehicles without a fitness certificate. Problems of enforcement, adherence and coordination between different sectors still remain unresolved.
The Vehicle Inspection and Certificate System has assumed responsibility of implementing the ban on polluting vehicles, issuing fitness certificates as well as the verification process. Those found guilty would be held accountable through high fines that are aimed at discouraging the use of carbon-emitting vehicles that have contributed to the worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) greatly.
Already, the Punjab Government’s Environment Protection Department implemented a ban on the open burning of rice stubbles, hazardous materials and solid waste yet, we still see raging fires every mile or so in city centres. No action is taken against those who are actively releasing toxic gasses into the air.
What can be achieved when the Provincial Disaster Management Authority states that the increase in barbecued and grilled food in the winter is the cause of the smog that has left people suffering from infection and allergies? Unless the government takes a far more serious approach to the entire problem, the smog will continue and people will suffer as they have done for years.
Sporadic efforts are made now and then, but over two decades, no cohesive policy has emerged to counter what every citizen knows they will experience in winter. Such patchy measures are doing nothing towards the resolution of a crisis growing in intensity. Cleaning up the air has to be a sustained, well-directed, and over-the-years effort.
If the government procrastinates further, citizens should have no qualms about coming together to demand immediate action on an ongoing serious public health issue.
