Letter from Lahore: City needs to fight pollution tag

Several press reports, appearing over the last few months, suggest that Lahore today has the dubious distinction as ranking among the world's 10 most polluted cities and indeed has possibly moved into place at the top of this list, ahead of rivals that include New Delhi and Cairo.

Certainly, this is not hard for residents of the city to believe.

Cars left standing even for a few hours outdoors soon collect a thick layer of grime, indicating the number of pollutants in the air, while doctor's report that at least 50 per cent of people in the city suffer respiratory afflictions.

This is turn accounts for the hacking, wheezing and throat clearing sounds that fill any auditorium in the city hosting more than a few dozen people, with the film or play on show punctuated by these muffled sounds.

The film of fog that has begun to hang over the city as winter tightens its grip and the distinct cloud of haze visible as Lahore is approached along the motorway or by air provide yet further evidence of the problem.

Piles of smouldering rubbish spotted in various places across the city, or the sight of plumes of black smoke unleashed by a passing rickshaw or wagon act to explain some of the reasons for the pollution.

What is however disturbing is that, so far, no serious efforts appear to have been taken to deal with the growing menace.

Petitions moved before courts have had little impact, with measures such as those taken in New Delhi, banning all public transport vehicles using diesel, seem almost inconceivable.

Attempts by successive provincial governments to clean up the city or ban the setting alight of garbage have too failed to have any long-term impact, with the huge shortage of sanitation staff and dumping grounds for the rubbish generated daily adding to the difficulties. It is however now abundantly clear that pollution is now one of the gravest problems faced by the city, with a huge impact on health, and consequently the expenditure, both from the accounts of family heads and the government on health.

The latest World Bank reports suggest that air and water pollution in fact account for 80 per cent of illnesses across the country and as such the benefits of reducing such pollution are obvious.

For many citizens, it would be hugely beneficial if government elected to power devoted greater attention to such matters, which affect the life of every citizen living in the city, rather than matters of increased perks for parliamentarians or debates over the location of a planned roundabout or fountain that so often take centre stage in the provincial assembly.

And certainly, dealing with issues of health, pollution, education and other civic concerns would be a far better way to occupy time than the long, sometimes abusive harangues over moral character that surface every now and then in legislatures.

As such, there is clearly a need for groups working on environmental protection to determine what measures are needed to be taken to salvage the situation and help clear away the giant clouds of dirt that hang low over Lahore.

Once this is done, members of government can be lobbied to begin acting on the recommendations and putting in place strategies that can lead to industries being moved outside the city boundaries and vehicular pollution controlled.

Until this is done, there is a fear that Lahore will continue to top the list of the world's least clean cities. And as a result, the health of its citizens will continue to decline as doctors warn of the affects of inhaled lead from vehicular emissions on the welfare of children and advise that in these polluted times, it may be wiser not to spend time outdoors for fear of the effects of taking in air laden with particles of dust and a worrying variety of other substances.