Daily Times

Blame Diwali celebrations, bribes from pollution-causing industries or the bustling labyrinth of private transports, no one – not even the fiercest of climate deniers – can close eyes to Lahore, a city known for its rich history and vibrant culture, is currently facing a dire and alarming situation – a smog emergency a curt of gardens, get obscured by the toxic haze. With pollution levels soaring to alarming heights, the residents of Lahore are grappling with the hazardous effects of the smog that they are forced to breathe. On Saturday, air quality monitoring stations in Lahore recorded pollution levels at a staggering 80 times above the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Since smog has become a new and unfortunate reality, Lahore High Court is contemplating shorter and fewer working days for schools and offices in hopes of reviving the once pristine skies, which have now been replaced by a thick blanket of smog that hangs over the city, obscuring the sun and turning day into night. The situation has become so severe that an average resident is expected to face a reduced lifespan of as many as seven years.

Hospitals are already inundated with patients suffering from respiratory illnesses, eye infections, and skin disorders caused by prolonged exposure to the polluted air. While expecting an overnight miracle is unreasonable, the Punjab government’s ‘green lockdown’ has yet to achieve its intended goals.

Year after year of suffering from the same phenomenon, the government may have learned better than to pin the blame on the neighbourhood winds and consider their job done. As authorities constantly advise the elderly, children, and the vulnerable to put the guard on and ensure maximum protection, there is a similarly roaring discussion on the lethal combination that spurred the man-made disaster into action. However, it can only be prayed that sooner rather than later, those spending days in and days out pointing fingers at vehicular emissions, industrial pollution and crop stubble burning would realise the urgency of addressing the threats on a sustained basis.

Simply rolling out laws might gain colourful headlines, but in a province with a functional disaster management authority on top of a comprehensive Smog Act, the primary challenge lies in a crippling absence of enforcement mechanisms. Our health and safety should not be compromised any further. *