Lahore

Turning Gray Skies Blue

As successfully done by Beijing, reversing smog is possible through a long-term, multipronged action plan.

By Prof. Dr. S. Shafiq ur Rehman | January 2025


Recurring smog during autumn and winter poses severe health risks to millions of residents, especially children, the elderly, and those with chronic pulmonary diseases. Smog aggravates respiratory issues, increases hospital admissions, and reduces life expectancy. Besides, smog disrupts daily activities, affecting businesses, education, and transportation. The economic costs of air pollution include increased healthcare expenses, lost productivity, and reduced agricultural yields due to crop damage.

In recent years, impactful legislation, strict enforcement, and green technologies have helped many national and subnational governments transform smoke—and dust-filled air into healthy air and blue skies. Notable success stories include Paris, Seoul, New York, Bogotá, and Accra. Among these, Beijing is a compelling case study demonstrating how a multipronged strategy can restore breathable air and reduce health risks for a large urban population.

The “Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan,” launched in 2013, was a turning point for Beijing. Aiming to reduce particulate matter (PM2.5) and oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, the plan targeted both Beijing and its surrounding regions with a three-year timeline. Enforcing stricter environmental laws, the plan held local governments and industries accountable for compliance with air quality standards. Heavy fines and shutdowns were implemented for violations. The ultimate goal was to “Win the Blue-Sky War” by 2018.

Beijing’s efforts included phasing out coal, transitioning to clean energy, and shutting down its last coal-fired power plant in 2017. The government replaced coal-fired heating systems in residential areas with natural gas or electricity, particularly during winter when coal burning contributed heavily to smog. Investments in wind, solar, and hydroelectric power reduced dependency on fossil fuels. High-polluting industries like steel manufacturing and cement production were either relocated, retrofitted with advanced pollution-control technologies, or permanently shut down.

Stringent vehicle emission standards comparable to those in the European Union were adopted in the transportation sector. Older vehicles that failed to meet the standards were removed from the roads. Beijing introduced policies to cap new vehicle registrations, expanded its subway network, added bus rapid transit (BRT) lines, and promoted electric buses and taxis. Subsidies for electric vehicle (EV) purchases and charging infrastructure further encouraged residents to switch from gasoline-powered vehicles.

A comprehensive network of air quality monitoring stations was established, tracking pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NOx, and ozone in real-time. Transparency in sharing air quality data fostered accountability and public engagement.

According to a 2023 report by the Urban Unit of the Government of Pakistan, the primary sources of particulate emissions in Lahore include transportation (83%), industry (9%), commercial sector (0.14%), domestic sector (0.11%), and the burning of crop residues (3.9%) and waste (3.6%). Together, these sources account for more than 99% of Lahore’s air pollution. The transport sector alone is the single largest contributor.

Earlier studies, such as the 2018 regional emissions inventory for Punjab by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), identified key emission sources in 11 districts, including Gujranwala, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Sialkot. Together, these cities contribute approximately 0.62 million metric tonnes of emissions annually. Crop residue burning, widely practiced in Punjab during October and November, emitted about 116,000 tonnes of carbon monoxide in 2018 and is a major cause of winter smog. By contrast, the power sector is the least polluting, emitting 74,000 tonnes of emissions annually.

As of March 2024, data from the Punjab government shows that over 24 million vehicles are registered in the province, including 97,000 buses, 83,000 trucks, and 567,000 tractors—most of which use diesel. Lahore alone accounts for 7.31 million registered vehicles. This massive vehicle volume, poor fuel standards, and outdated technology significantly worsen air quality.

Lessons from Beijing for Lahore

Beijing’s and other cities’ examples illustrate that reversing smog is possible through a long-term, multipronged action plan. For Lahore and other polluted cities in Pakistan, a similar approach, tailored to local conditions, is needed. The following measures may have to be adopted to address the lingering issue.

Read More