SUMMARY of the article “The Killing Air,” by Omar Mukhtar Khan, Published on October 30th, 2023
The World Air Quality report reveals that Lahore was named the most polluted city in the world for 2022. The factors contributing to this alarming pollution include a population of 15 million people, 6 million vehicles emitting foul air, and poorly regulated industries that use tires and wood as fuel. Surprisingly, Peshawar ranked as the fifth most polluted city globally, despite having a smaller population (4 million) and fewer vehicles (around 1 million). Alarming statistics from the Air Quality Life Index show that if the World Health Organization’s air quality guidelines were met, the life expectancy of citizens in Lahore and Peshawar would increase by six to eight years. Research also indicates that air pollution disproportionately affects children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immunity. A study in low-income areas of Lahore found that public awareness about air pollution influences behavior, with people more likely to use masks or stay indoors during high pollution periods. In Peshawar, nearly 60% of air pollution results from transport-related activities, followed by dust, industry, and household wood burning. In Lahore, almost 80% of air pollution stems from transport vehicles, with the remainder attributed to industry and agriculture. Curiously, the government’s focus on reducing air pollution is primarily on agriculture and industry rather than the main contributor, transport. Collaboration is crucial, with initiatives like the Peshawar Clean Air Alliance working with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Bank of Khyber, and North Western Hospital to raise awareness and conduct research. In the short term, the government should install citywide air quality monitors and provide Euro-IV or V-compliant fuel during the smog season. Enforcing diesel-free days for public transport and promoting carpooling are also recommended. Additionally, the government should implement odd and even number vehicle days to reduce traffic. A massive awareness campaign is needed to educate the public about air quality and encourage behavioral changes. In the long term, a shift to cleaner fuel, improving public transport connectivity, discouraging diesel-based public transport, strengthening emissions testing, and launching a large-scale afforestation campaign are crucial to address air pollution comprehensively.
Easy/Short SUMMARY:
Lahore has earned the dubious title of the world’s most polluted city in 2022 due to its large population, excessive vehicles, and poorly regulated industries. Peshawar also ranks high in pollution despite its smaller size. Air pollution significantly reduces life expectancy, particularly for children, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems. Studies show that public awareness influences behavior, with people more likely to use masks and stay indoors during high pollution periods. Transport, dust, industry, and household wood burning are the main contributors to air pollution. Surprisingly, the government focuses on agriculture and industry, ignoring the primary role of transport. Collaboration and awareness are key in the short term, including installing air quality monitors, providing cleaner fuel, and enforcing diesel-free days. Long-term solutions involve cleaner fuel, improved public transport, discouraging diesel transport, stronger emissions testing, and a large-scale afforestation campaign.
SOLUTIONS of The Problem:
Monitoring and Clean Fuel
Install comprehensive air quality monitors and make results publicly available for informed decision-making. Ensure the availability of cleaner Euro-IV or V-compliant fuel during the smog season.
Reducing Diesel Pollution
Enforce diesel-free days for the worst polluting public transport and three-wheelers, particularly on main city roads. Promote carpooling and the use of buses for school, secretariat, hospital, and factory staff.
Traffic Management
Implement odd and even number vehicle days to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads on any given day.
Awareness Campaign
Launch a massive awareness campaign to educate the public about air quality, its impact on health and economic costs, government efforts, required behavioral changes, such as wearing masks, and using public transport.
IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the article:
- Lahore was the most polluted city in the world in 2022.
- Peshawar ranked as the fifth most polluted city globally.
- Citizens of Lahore and Peshawar could live six to eight years longer if air quality met WHO guidelines.
- Research shows that children, the elderly, and those with compromised immunity are disproportionately affected by air pollution.
- Nearly 60% of air pollution in Peshawar comes from transport-related activities, followed by dust, industry, and household wood burning.
- About 80% of air pollution in Lahore emanates from transport vehicles, with the rest from industry and agriculture.
MCQs from the Article:
- What city was named the most polluted in the world for 2022?
A. Peshawar
B. Lahore
C. Mumbai
D. Beijing -
How much could life expectancy increase for Lahore and Peshawar citizens if WHO air quality guidelines were met?
A. 2-4 years
B. 4-6 years
C. 6-8 years
D. 8-10 years -
What percentage of air pollution in Peshawar comes from transport-related activities?
A. 30%
B. 40%
C. 60%
D. 70% -
What long-term solution is recommended to address air pollution in the article?
A. Encouraging more household wood burning
B. Promoting more industrial activities
C. A large-scale afforestation campaign
D. Strengthening diesel-based public transport -
What is the suggested way to reduce traffic on the roads during the worst-affected months?
A. Introduce more vehicles
B. Offer free fuel for all
C. Implement odd and even number vehicle days
D. Build more roads
VOCABULARY:
- Dubious (adjective) (مشکوک): Hesitating or doubting.
- Emitting (verb) (اخراج کرنا): To release or discharge.
- Regulated (adjective) (منظم شدہ): Controlled or governed by rules and regulations.
- Disproportionately (adverb) (غیر مناسب طریقے سے): In a way that is not balanced or equitable.
- Compliant (adjective) (منظم): Willing to conform and obey.
- Afforestation (noun) (زرعی): The act of establishing a forest or stand of trees.
- Sustainable (adjective) (قائم رکھنے کے قابل): Capable of being maintained over the long term.
- Advocacy (noun) (حمایت): Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy.
- Comprehensive (adjective) (جامع): Including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something.
- Alarming (adjective) (خطرناک): Causing fear or worry.
- Crucial (adjective) (اہم): Decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of something.
- Sustainable Energy (noun) (قائم رکھنے کی توانائی): Energy sources that are environmentally friendly and can be maintained over time.
- Cooperation (noun) (تعاون): The process of working together to the same end.
- Awareness (noun) (آگاہی): Knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.
- Euro-IV or V-compliant fuel (phrase) (یورو-IV یا V تطابق والی توانائی): Fuel that adheres to specific European emission standards.
- Afforestation (noun) (زرعی): The act of establishing a forest or stand of trees.
- Emissions testing (phrase) (اخراج کی ٹیسٹنگ): Evaluating and measuring pollutants discharged into the environment.
- Public transport connectivity (phrase) (عوامی نقل وسیلوں کا مواصلت): The ease with which different modes of public transport connect and complement each other.
- Disposable vehicles (phrase) (فوجی سواری کے وسائل کی پیشکش): Vehicles intended for single or limited use and designed to be discarded after use.
- Economic costs (phrase) (معاشی لاگتیں): The expenses and negative financial impacts associated with a specific issue or problem.
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The killing air
Omar Mukhtar Khan
ACCORDING to a recent World Air Quality report, Lahore recently bagged the dubious honour for the most polluted city of the world in 2022. With a population of some 15 million people, 6m foul-air-emitting vehicles, and surrounded by partially regulated industry using tyres and wood as fuel, this is not surprising. However, Peshawar’s rating as the fifth most polluted city in the world does come as a surprise, especially when you consider a population of only 4m people, 1m or so vehicles, and limited industry.
The Air Quality Life Index informs us that the life expectancy of citizens of Lahore and Peshawar would increase by six to eight years if we meet the World Health Organisation’s air quality guidelines. Further, research on the health impact of air pollution suggests that children, the elderly and immunity-compromised people are disproportionately affected by breathing polluted air.
A recent study by the International Growth Centre of the low-income areas of Lahore suggests that awareness around air pollution influences behaviour, and that people are more inclined to use masks or remain indoors during periods of high pollution.
Another study conducted by the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development programme in Peshawar tells us that almost 60 per cent of the air pollution comes from transport-related activities, followed by dust, industry and household wood burning.
Life expectancy can increase if we meet air quality standards.
A similar study by Urban Unit, Punjab, suggests that almost 80pc of the air pollution in Lahore emanates from transport vehicles, and the rest from industry and agriculture. Interestingly, however, the focus of the government for reducing air pollution is on agriculture and industry and not transport.
The shift of the needle on air pollution in Peshawar and Lahore shall need top-level political commitment, strong advocacy, administrative measures and financial resources. An excellent example of collaboration to tackle air pollution comes from Peshawar where a civil society initiative, ie, the Peshawar Clean Air Alliance, and the Environmental Protection Agency are collaborating with the Bank of Khyber and North Western Hospital to promote awareness and research on the issue.
In the short term, the governments need to explore following steps. One, instal standard air monitors covering the cities holistically and make results publicly available for informed decision-making by the public about their daily activities.
Two, ensure the availability of Euro-IV- or V-compliant fuel in Peshawar and Lahore, at least during the smog season. This step is expected to have an immediate impact on air quality during the worst-affected months from November to February.
Three, diesel-emitting public transport and three-wheelers are the worst polluters; enforcing a couple of diesel-free days every week on the main city roads would help greatly in this regard.
Four, the government should enforce the use of buses for school pickup and drop-off, or at least carpooling. The same measures should be taken for secretariat, hospital and factory staff.
Five, the government should explore odd and even number vehicle days on the roads, thereby reducing the number of vehicles on the roads on any given day.
Six, the government should launch a massive awareness campaign informing the public about air quality status in the city, the impact on health and its economic costs to citizens, the government’s efforts and the efforts expected of the people, the behavioural changes required, such as wearing masks, using public transport, etc.
In the long term, the government should focus on ensuring a shift to Euro-IV- or V-standard cleaner fuel for the entire year; improving public transport connectivity all over Peshawar and Lahore so that people start using public transport more frequently; discouraging diesel-based public transport and allowing the retirement of these vehicles in the next five years; improving fuel and public transport standards, for which it needs to strengthen the vehicle emissions testing regime to ensure vehicles emitting hazardous pollutants are not allowed on the road; and embarking on a massive afforestation campaign, especially in Peshawar, in order to minimise dust-related air pollution.
We hear about air pollution every winter during the smog season but once the smog season is gone, the very useful noise around air pollution also subsides. It is time that people raised their voices so that all political parties make addressing air pollution an election campaign issue and governments take concrete steps to address air pollution before it is too late.
The writer is a development professional with an interest in environment and climate change. He is president of the Harvard Club of Pakistan.
X (formerly Twitter): @omk1973
Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2023