Pakistan’s policies lack mechanisms to tackle the Alarming pollution levels

Islamabad – A report released by the Center of Research on Energy and Clean Air  states that Pakistan’s policies lack the mechanisms to curtail and tackle the alarming and hazardous pollution levels.

The National Clean Air Policy was introduced by Pakistan in March 2023 and right after March the Punjab Clean Air Plan was introduced in April.

After a comprehensive review, CREA found that both policies lack strong and solid measures to curtail and control the alarming pollution levels. Despite the positive efforts of the policies such as the revision of emission standards and the prioritization on emission inventories, both policies have dire shortcomings in controlling the overall pollution levels.

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Even though NCAP has solid and strict measures on the limitation of emissions of industries and their decarbonization of the power sector alongside restriction of industrial establishments in residential or city areas, the main goal is not being achieved as the Air Quality gets worse and worse especially in Lahore.

The South Asian Analyst at CREA stated that the creation of NCAP should serve as a foundation and targeted and evidence based initiatives.

Moreover, a Researcher at CREA, Dawar Butt stated that the policies need to oversee the major emission sectors such as transportation and energy and power sectors. He stated that we see administrator emissions from these sectors and that we need to administer these by setting targeted emission goals and load limits.

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It’s important to address the policies to ensure better Air quality in both rural and urban areas. Moreover, the CREA report suggested that emission load reduction-based approach needs to be adopted to control the hazardous pollution levels and provide a better Air Quality to both the rural and urban areas of affected regions.

Furthermore, the emission standards for industries need to be revised and CREA suggests adopting a legal framework for the strengthening of the policies, and also to make city-level air action plans.