Karachi and Lahore have both had the dubious distinction of ranking among the world's most polluted cities once again. Lahore, with an Air Quality Index of 234, stood second only to New Delhi, while Karachi's 182 placed it firmly in the "unhealthy" category. For citizens of both cities, this is a daily battle to breathe.
Air pollution has evolved into one of Pakistan's gravest public health emergencies. WHO estimates that over 256,000 lives are lost annually in the country due to air pollution. The causes are well known: unregulated industrial emissions, ever-growing number of vehicles, crop burning and poor enforcement of environmental laws. In winter, the problem worsens as stagnant air traps pollutants, giving rise to the familiar smog that now defines the season in Punjab. The Punjab government has launched anti-smog drives and sprinkling operations across Lahore. Police have also made arrests to curb open burning. These measures, while necessary, remain temporary and largely reactive. Once the smog lifts, so too does official urgency – until the haze descends again the following year.
What is required is a long-term strategy anchored in prevention rather than response. This includes enforcing emission standards, transitioning to cleaner public transport, expanding green spaces and encouraging renewable energy in industrial zones. Equally important is regional coordination, especially with India, to address cross-border pollution that worsens conditions each winter. Clean air should no longer depend on the season or the strength of the wind. The haze that hangs over our cities is as much a symbol of administrative inertia as it is of environmental decay. Citizens will unfortunately continue to pay the price until Pakistan treats this as a year-round crisis.
