March 19, 2024
By Xari Jalil
LAHORE
In IQAir’s annual World Air Quality Report 2023 released today Pakistan has emerged as the second most polluted country in the world.
The report has revealed that the annual average particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration is 14 times higher than the guidelines given by the World Health Organization at 73.7 μg/m³, which has impacted the quality and expectancy of life. A loss in life expectancy of 4.4 years across Pakistan has been calculated by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI).
Lahore – fifth most polluted city
Aside from being in the top most polluted countries, Pakistan also has the ill repute of having one of its mega city Lahore as being on the list of the top most polluted cities in the world – on the 5th position. Lahore’s pollution levels have been measured at 99.5 μg/m³, 20 times higher than WHO guidelines for exposure to fine particulate level pollution. Pollution levels in Lahore are even worse than New Delhi which is 92.7 μg/m³.
Lahore residents are facing a serious health threat, according to data from Punjab’s Environmental Protection Department. Their readings show alarming levels of hazardous air pollution, averaging 108 μg/m³. This is significantly higher than safe limits, and the situation worsens during the smog season. In November, the average pollution level skyrocketed to a staggering 251 μg/m³. These figures highlight the urgent need for immediate action to address Lahore’s air quality crisis.
Dr Saima Saeed, Head of Pulmonology & Director, Lung Health Program, Indus Hospital and Health Network has stated that the air pollution contributes to multiple health issues all year long.
“This level of air pollution causes chest infections and lung cancer as well as worsening lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)” she said. “Pakistan’s poor air quality makes other non-communicable diseases such as strokes, mental health issues and diabetes more likely. Air pollution is also known to affect fertility and the cognitive development of children.”
Other Cities
The top worst polluted cities in Pakistan are Lahore (99.5), Faisalabad (88.2), Peshawar (76.5), Rawalpindi (59.5), Karachi (56.4) and Islamabad (42.4).
Part of the data in this report is by on-ground measurements by the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI), which has deployed a number of monitoring stations since 2016. These fill a significant gap in government-operated regulatory monitoring of air pollution, which are mandated to monitor and report a number of criteria pollutants to the public.
“Islamabad has gone up from 17th place to 9th in the list of most polluted capitals in the world, while Pakistan has been ranked as the 2nd most polluted country for the first time after being 3rd consistently,” according to Dawar Hameed, Chief Executive Officer of PAQI.
“All of this has happened at a time when the economy is weak and overall activities are lower than previous years. These indicators are showing that poor air quality is a crisis that has minimal attention from successive governments, and consequently turned into a daunting public health crisis.”
Particulate matter pollution is especially dangerous for health as it can penetrate through lung tissue and enter into the bloodstream. Other pollutants include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides, which should also be monitored and regulated to be within safe limits.
“A clean, healthy, and sustainable environment is a universal human right. In many parts of the world the lack of air quality data delays decisive action and perpetuates unnecessary human suffering. Air quality data saves lives. Where air quality is reported, action is taken, and air quality improves,” said Frank Hammes, Global CEO, IQAir in an official press statement.
Local and regional efforts are required to manage air pollution in Pakistan, as well as strengthening and capacity building of the regulatory bodies for monitoring emissions.
