THE skies over Lahore and much of Punjab have become a toxic haze, a stark reminder of Pakistan’s growing environmental crisis. Smog, once a seasonal nuisance, has escalated into a full-blown health emergency, choking millions of residents with each passing year. What was once an occasional occurrence is now a regular, debilitating feature of life in the region. As smog episodes intensify and spread, the air quality deteriorates and the impact on public health and the environment grows more severe. To truly grasp the depth of this crisis, we must look beyond the visible smoke and fog and explore the root causes, the history of this growing menace and the urgent solutions needed to clear the air and protect Pakistan’s future.
Smog in Pakistan, especially in Punjab, has worsened in recent decades due to human activities, environmental mismanagement and inadequate policies. Lahore, with its growing population, industrial expansion and traffic congestion, is at the epicentre of this crisis. Smog forms when pollutants from vehicles, industries and agriculture mix with atmospheric moisture, creating a toxic fog, particularly in winter when cool temperatures trap pollutants. The rapid increase in vehicles, coupled with poor maintenance and lack of strict emission controls, significantly contributes to this pollution. With over 6.2 million vehicles and 4.2 motorbikes in Lahore and 19.6 million in Punjab, the lack of effective regulations has helped make Lahore the second most polluted city in the world, following Delhi.
Industrial emissions are another major contributor to smog in Punjab, which has experienced rapid industrial growth in recent years. Factories, brick kilns and power plants, many of which burn fossil fuels like coal and oil, release large quantities of particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide into the air. These emissions are often poorly regulated and the lack of effective environmental monitoring and enforcement has allowed industries to pollute the atmosphere with little accountability. Agricultural practices, particularly the burning of crop residue after the rice harvest in October and November, add to the smog. Farmers burn leftover stalks and straw to clear fields for the next planting season, releasing large amounts of smoke, particulate matter and carbon dioxide. This practice, driven by a lack of alternatives, not only affects rural areas but also contributes to urban smog, as the smoke often drifts into cities, worsening air quality.
Seasonal weather patterns play a role in smog’s formation and persistence. During winter, Lahore and other cities in Punjab experience a temperature inversion, where a warm air layer traps cooler air near the ground, confining pollutants in the lower atmosphere and intensifying smog. This smog consists of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and other toxic gases harmful to human health. Prolonged exposure can lead to respiratory issues such as asthma, bronchitis and even lung cancer. Cardiovascular diseases also increase, particularly among vulnerable populations like children, the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.
The toxic air irritates the eyes, throat and skin, causing widespread discomfort and illness. According to WHO, air pollution in Pakistan, especially in urban centres like Lahore, is one of the leading causes of premature death, with thousands dying each year due to respiratory diseases directly linked to poor air quality, posing a severe public health threat. Coupled to health issues, smog has significant economic consequences. The poor air quality often results in reduced visibility, which disrupts transportation, delays flights at airports and increases the number of road accidents. In Lahore, schools and businesses sometimes close when air quality deteriorates, leading to loss of productivity. The increased number of health-related issues places a burden on the healthcare system, further straining the country’s already limited resources.
Given the complex and multifactorial nature of the smog problem, addressing it requires a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach. One of the most urgent steps is to implement stricter vehicular emission standards and improve public transportation. The government must enforce stricter regulations on vehicle emissions, ensuring that only those vehicles meeting modern emission standards are allowed to operate. Regular vehicle inspections, fines for non-compliance and incentives for upgrading to more environmentally friendly vehicles are key steps in reducing vehicular pollution. Investing in public transportation infrastructure, such as replacing motorbikes with e-bikes/scooters and promoting the use of eco-friendly transport options like electric buses and trains, could significantly reduce the number of private vehicles on the road. The government needs to tighten regulations and improve enforcement of environmental standards in the industrial sector. Factories, brick kilns and power plants should be required to install emission control technologies like scrubbers and filters to reduce harmful pollutants. Industries reliant on coal or high-emission fuels should be incentivized to switch to cleaner alternatives, such as natural gas or renewable energy. The government can further encourage green technologies through subsidies and tax breaks. Collaboration with farmers to promote sustainable practices and alternatives to burning crop residue is essential. Crop residue could be used for bio-energy or composting, benefiting farmers economically. Machines like happy seeders, which allow direct sowing without stubble burning, should be promoted. Public awareness campaigns to educate farmers on the environmental and health impacts of crop burning are crucial for behaviour change in rural areas.
Urban areas like Lahore need to adopt sustainable urban planning practices that prioritize green spaces and reduce congestion. Trees and vegetation play a vital role in absorbing pollutants and improving air quality, so increasing the city’s green cover through afforestation programs can significantly help in reducing smog. Rather than focusing on non-native tree species like palms, eucalyptus and other foreign varieties, the Punjab Horticulture Authority should prioritize planting indigenous trees suited to local soils and climates. Native trees such as peepal (Ficus religiosa), bargad (Ficus benghalensis), neem (Azadirachta indica), sukhchain (Melia azedarach) and kikar (Acacia arabica) are better equipped to thrive in Punjab’s environment. These trees not only produce more oxygen and absorb greater amounts of carbon dioxide, but their deep-root systems also help prevent soil erosion and reduce dust, making them highly effective in mitigating smog.
—The writer is PhD in Political Science and visiting faculty member at QAU Islamabad.
