By Uzma Ehtasham
The Punjab government’s recent attempts to address the severe smog crisis sweeping across central Punjab are faltering in the face of unrelenting pollution levels, casting doubt on whether current measures are sufficient to protect public health. The situation reached a grim peak on Friday as air quality dropped to perilously low levels, cloaking the region in a thick, toxic haze that has brought life in many areas to a near standstill. The dense smog has created a health and safety nightmare, with reduced visibility triggering a spate of traffic accidents, underscoring the deadly risks that pollution has imposed on everyday life. Lahore, now infamous for ranking among the most polluted cities globally, epitomizes the scale of the crisis. For residents of the city, breathing in what should be fresh air has turned into an ordeal, as health problems like eye and throat irritation, respiratory distress, and exacerbated chronic conditions grow increasingly common.
Despite the gravity of these health hazards, the public response has been concerningly indifferent. Many people continue to disregard essential safety measures, indicating a lack of awareness or urgency about the health implications of smog exposure. Without community-wide adherence to protective protocols, the health consequences will likely worsen, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing respiratory issues. This detachment from safety guidelines is troubling, reflecting either a lack of awareness or a fatigue toward compliance that risks deepening the public health crisis.
To curb exposure and limit the smog’s impact, the government has implemented several stringent controls. Schools will remain closed until November 17, a measure intended to shield children from the dangers of outdoor exposure, while government and private offices have halved in-person attendance to reduce commuter congestion and minimize the number of people on the roads. The Environmental Protection Department has meanwhile issued a stark warning that pollution levels could continue to deteriorate, a prediction that only compounds public anxiety over the region’s future air quality. Public gathering spaces, including markets, tourist attractions, and other high-footfall areas, will remain shuttered on Sundays, with a complete halt on all public events until mid-November as a preventive step against mass exposure. Authorities have also issued travel advisories through the motorway authority, encouraging citizens to restrict road journeys to daylight hours, particularly between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., when visibility is at its highest. While these restrictions may seem prudent, the shift to daytime travel will likely cause heavy congestion, and managing this influx will demand rigorous traffic controls. Enforcing safe distances between vehicles becomes critical, especially as the risk of accidents multiplies in these hazy conditions.
However, these immediate measures, though necessary, reveal a troubling lack of long-term planning. The persistence of smog points to deeper systemic issues that short-term fixes cannot solve. Despite the administration’s efforts, the crisis has laid bare the limitations of provincial interventions, which are either inadequately enforced or fundamentally insufficient to address pollution at this scale. Additionally, the situation is exacerbated by cross-border pollution from India’s Punjab, where seasonal crop burning contributes significantly to the pollutants drifting into Pakistani airspace. This transboundary pollution, resulting largely from agricultural practices in India, adds an international dimension to Pakistan’s smog crisis. Tackling this cross-border challenge requires the federal government to raise the issue at diplomatic and environmental forums, pressing for cooperation on policies to manage emissions that impact both nations.
Beyond government efforts, this crisis calls for a multi-layered approach that demands active involvement from district administrations, community organizations, and the public itself. Local governments must work with citizens to build a collective understanding of the gravity of the issue and the measures necessary to mitigate it. Combating the smog will require moving beyond temporary restrictions and closures; it calls for a long-term, integrated strategy addressing the underlying causes of pollution, from industrial emissions to vehicular exhaust and agricultural practices. To truly combat the region’s pollution woes, authorities must implement tougher regulatory frameworks on emissions, incentivize cleaner alternatives for agriculture, and launch public awareness campaigns to educate communities on the health risks associated with smog and pollution.
Without structural reforms, the immediate response measures will do little to alleviate the smog in the long term. Effective solutions will require commitments from both provincial and federal governments, as well as collaboration with neighboring countries, to tackle pollution comprehensively. Only a coordinated, sustained effort can bring meaningful relief to the people of Punjab, who deserve the right to breathe clean air and live free from the constant threat of pollution-induced health hazards. For Punjab’s government, this crisis presents an opportunity to demonstrate leadership by adopting bold, lasting measures that prioritize environmental health and public welfare. If pursued with conviction, such an approach could transform the region’s air quality and set a crucial precedent for environmental policy in Pakistan.
(The writer is a public health professional and possesses expertise in health communication, having keen interest in national and international affairs, can be reached at uzma@metro-morning.com)
