IN the streets of Pakistani cities, air pollution quietly threatens lives, especially the lives of our children. Although invisible, this hidden danger harms our health, with children being the most vulnerable. According to the State of Global Air 2024 report, nearly 2,000 children under five die daily due to air pollution. In 2021, pollution caused 8.1 million deaths worldwide, more than tobacco use and poor eating habits combined.
The primary culprit is PM2.5, tiny particles that contribute to diseases like lung cancer, heart attack, strokes and diabetes. In countries like Pakistan, where environmental regulations are often ignored, these particles exceed safe levels, leaving cities covered in smog. Pakistan faces a double threat: outdoor pollution from factories and vehicles and indoor pollution from outdated cooking methods using coal, wood or animal dung. These methods harm families, especially women and children who spend much time inhaling smoke in kitchens.
The problem is most severe in cities like Karachi, Lahore and Faisalabad, where industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust and construction dust combine to create toxic smog. Winter worsens the air quality, making it even more dangerous. In rural areas, burning crops in autumn increases pollution, while climate change fuels ozone pollution. The elderly, children and those with existing health conditions suffer the most, leading to more hospital visits. For instance, Punjab faced a severe smog crisis recently.
Air pollution also takes a significant economic toll, with higher healthcare costs, lower productivity and potential declines in foreign investment and tourism. If left unaddressed, pollution will continue to harm Pakistan’s economic growth. However, there is hope. Since 2000, China has reduced child deaths from air pollution by over 50% through cleaner cooking methods and air quality regulations. Pakistan can adopt similar measures, like improving city planning and encouraging cleaner energy sources.
To combat air pollution, Pakistan needs a long-term plan. The government must enforce stricter air quality regulations and control pollution from multiple sources. Cities should improve infrastructure, promote public transport and encourage cleaner energy. Cleaner cooking methods are also essential and investing in air monitoring and research is crucial. Universities and research centers should develop innovative solutions, such as smog-eating buildings or plants that help clean the air.
The media has an important role in spreading awareness and holding polluters accountable. Investigative reporting and regular air quality updates help people make better health choices. Individuals can also reduce pollution by using public transport, avoiding trash burning and adopting cleaner cooking methods. People should demand that air pollution be prioritized by politicians.
At COP29 in Baku, air pollution was a key topic. Pakistan’s cities, covered in smog, highlighted the urgency of the issue. World leaders stressed the need for both global and local action to combat pollution, with UNICEF emphasizing that clean air is a fundamental right, not a luxury. The choices we make today will affect the health of future generations. Although the challenge is tough, Pakistan can overcome it, as it has done before. By working together and taking strong action, we can defeat this invisible enemy. The future of our children and our nation depends on the steps we take today for a cleaner, healthier tomorrow.
—The writer is a young activist who comes from Islamabad and now lives in Dubai.
