The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench, after consolidating all cases related to environmental pollution, has sought reports from both the federal and provincial governments within three weeks regarding measures to tackle environmental pollution.
During the hearing of a case related to counterterrorism, one of the judges remarked that environmental agency officers do not leave their offices. Despite the presence of the agency and the law, there is a proliferation of housing societies. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, marble factories are operating near school buildings. Another judge questioned why the chairman of the Environmental Change Authority has not yet been appointed, stating that only once the chairman is appointed will the authority become functional.
Meanwhile, in response to the worsening environmental pollution, especially the smog in Lahore, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appealed to the nation to offer prayers for rain.
Undoubtedly, the remarks made by the honorable judges of the constitutional bench reflect the reality of environmental pollution, which has become an extremely serious issue. The health and safety of every Pakistani are linked to this problem. If smog is seen as a seasonal issue and treated with a “this too shall pass” attitude, it will continue to return every year, becoming increasingly severe.
According to the international air quality index, an AQI level of 300 or higher is hazardous to human health, and in Pakistan, this level often exceeds 1,000. Last week, the AQI level in Multan, located about 350 kilometers from Lahore, surpassed 2,000.
After the worsening smog situation last year, the caretaker government decided to implement artificial rainmaking, but the current Punjab government has not yet implemented it due to unfavorable weather conditions. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif continues to appeal for prayers for rain. However, it is humbly requested that the federal government take practical measures. The officers in the relevant departments should be held accountable, and the government should focus on activating the system. Serious problems cannot be solved with prayers alone.
Various departments are responsible for addressing environmental pollution across Pakistan’s provinces. Despite the large number of officers and staff, their performance is almost non-existent. Only when judicial orders are issued do these departments show any urgency. Otherwise, they comfortably enjoy their salaries and perks throughout the year, as there is no one to hold them accountable.
The government only contacts farmers during the smog season to prevent them from burning crop residues. However, they fail to provide guidance on how farmers should clear their fields to plant the next crop. Before the smog season, measures such as closing factories that emit smoke, banning brick kilns that don’t use zigzag technology, and enforcing Section 144 to prevent crop burning are taken.
We must also look at other contributing factors to smog. Vehicle emissions are already harmful to the environment, and now the government is considering importing cheaper fuel to save money, which could exacerbate the situation.
Several initiatives, such as the 10 Billion Tree Project, have been announced to reduce environmental pollution in Pakistan, yet cities like Lahore and Karachi continue to rank among the world’s 10 most polluted cities. Among all types of pollution, air pollution is the most dangerous, affecting every living being. It is estimated that millions of people worldwide are suffering from diseases caused by air pollution every day.
These ailments include respiratory inflammation, asthma, chest infections, heart disease, high blood pressure, heart attacks, angina, and strokes. Air pollution has various causes, including smoke from burning coal, wood, oil, or natural gas, wildfires, the use of fossil fuels in industries, emissions from brick kilns, factories that produce soot and ash, burning of waste materials, demolishing old buildings, and construction work. Various modes of transport and indoor pollution, such as from carpets, mosquito sprays, tobacco smoking, and poor ventilation, also contribute to increasing air pollution.
While these sources may seem harmless, harmful substances such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, fuel vapors, sulfur dioxide, and hydrocarbons mix into the atmosphere, negatively affecting human health. Airborne pollutants are often equivalent to the harmful effects of 8 to 10 cigarettes, which contribute to the depletion of the protective ozone layer, manifested as smog.
For example, Faisalabad, an industrial city, is already heavily affected by environmental pollution, compounded by the constant noise from vehicle horns. One-third of the vehicles running on the city’s roads are in poor condition, emitting toxic fumes that significantly worsen the city’s air quality.
In addition to the industrial machinery, the smoke from over 50,000 power looms in Faisalabad contributes to the pollution, as people inhale harmful substances through their lungs.
Similarly, in Karachi, complaints from coastal communities highlight issues like marine pollution, rising sea levels, and coastal erosion. Reports show that over 6,000 factories are discharging contaminated water into the sea every day, and large fishing trawlers are illegally exploiting marine life and using banned nets.
Plastic pollution further exacerbates the situation, negatively impacting sea turtles, crabs, shrimp, corals, and oysters. Housing schemes built by encroaching on the sea further harm the environment, as the sea is pushed back for construction, and food outlets and recreational spots directly affect the local coastal population.
We are aware of the damage we are causing to our environment, continuously adding to the burden of pollution while hoping that things will resolve on their own. In reality, we must change our approach and adopt a more serious attitude toward the environment. The final word is that eradicating environmental pollution will require the efforts of government agencies and every citizen of Pakistan. We need to adopt an environmentally friendly approach to ensure a safe future for our upcoming generations.