The History Of Smog In Lahore How Did It Become Such A Big Problem

Lahore has been praised for being one of the most culturally and naturally rich cities of Pakistan, gifted with beautiful gardens, but today face one of the worst crises of air pollution in South Asia. Smoke fog or “smog” as it is usually recognized has become a massive problem in the city due to it being a concoction of smoke and fog which has major health and environmental implications. Before we look at how smog became a problem on such a large scale in Lahore, we have to look at the historical, industrial and social political antecedents.

 

Expansion Of Lahore’s Urban Slum And Industries

The change of Lahore from the city of gardens to a large city redirect has greatly contributed to the emergence of smog. Lahore has grown up extremely rapidly particularly after the independence of Pakistan in 1947, due to extensive urbanization and industrialization. The population of the city has also expanded greatly, new housing colonies, industries' units and other infrastructural development go on to cater to this additional population.

 

• Lahore’s industrial aspect also grew swiftly, factories and manufacturing plants started to come up right across the city.
• This growth introduced economic development, but at the same time introduced negative effects to the environment.
• Nearly all of these industries were developed with scant consideration paid to pollution prevention, resulting in the spewing of various toxic gases as well as particulate matter into the atmosphere.
• Multiplication coupled with traffic and industrial pollution became the major source of air contamination putting the base for the smog event that we see today.

Vehicle Emissions: A Major Contributor

One of the key factors responsible for the deteriorating smog crisis in Lahore is the unprecedented growth of the vehicle population. In the past few decades alone, the number of automobiles in the city such as cars, motorcycles, buses and trucks is breathtaking. As much as owning cars is synonymous with economic development, it means increased emissions. Most of the vehicles on the roads in Lahore are old or in bad mechanical condition and emit high levels of carbon monoxide that is needed to form smog, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.

 

The prevailing low-quality fuel use, mainly diesel, emits more pollutants. Two-stroke engine rickshaws and poorly managed public transport services also add to the problem. Poor standards and no proper means of enforcement on vehicles have further led to increased pollution in the air, and Lahore roads are one of the highest emitters of it in the world.

View More: How to Protect Yourself during Smog in Lahore

Burning Crop Residue In The Outer Periphery

There is a big seasonal factor that is crop residue burning which hits the city very badly. A lot of agricultural leftover straw and stubble is burned in farmlands after harvesting by farmers in adjacent districts, which gives way to the next season. It leads to huge amounts of smoke and fine particulate matter releasing into the atmosphere, which drifts over to Lahore.

 

This combustion generally takes place in October and November as winter is just about to gain ground. The smoke emanating from crop combustion, vehicle emissions, and industrial pollution all form a thick layer of smog that strangles the city as winter sets in. Even conditions of weather such as temperature inversion trap the pollutants near the surface enhancing poor air quality and aggravating the problem of smog.

 

Deforestation and Urban Heat Islands

This green cover and trees of Lahore have been rapidly reduced during the era of speeding urbanization and deforestation. The major function of trees is to minimize the carbon dioxide in the environment while liberating oxygen. While this town expands, the concrete and tarmacked structures destroy the green fields and thousands of them are hacked down for roads, buildings, and other infrastructural investments.

 

• This has led to the formation of urban heat islands, whereby urban areas are supposed to retain the heat and make the local temperatures hot.
• These hotter temperatures may also lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, which is one of the significant components of smog.
• The loss of trees has reduced the natural filtering ability of the city; therefore, it has made the problem of air smog worse.

Lack Of Government Policies And Inadequate Environmental Regulations

While all of this drama is going on through the Lahori smog crisis, government policies for addressing air pollution are woefully slow and meager. Environmental regulations, gradually spread over several decades, have been weakly enforced or simply given the cold shoulder as an entirely forgotten issue. Industrial facilities continue to be allowed to run with unduly high levels of emissions where modern pollution control technologies are lacking; the vehicle emissions standard is old.

Climate Change And Weather Patterns

Moreover, there is climate change that has intensified the problem of smog in Lahore. The altering weather patterns caused by global warming have been contributing to the pollution of the city's atmosphere. Warmer temperatures raise ozone levels in the air, and wind changes bring about pollutant-rich air from other places.

 

Long dry spells attributed to climate change result in fewer rainy days which may lead to fewer clearings of the air.

Rain tends to clear out the pollutants in the atmosphere by washing them away but with fewer rainy days, pollution in Lahore tends to persist thereby causing more recurring and prolonged smog events.

Health Effects Of Smog In Lahore

The smog in Lahore has been declared not merely an environmental issue but a public health emergency. Exposure to high levels of it can cause serious health issues related to breathing diseases, heart disease, and infections within the lungs. Vulnerable groups in such attacks are children, old people, and people with pre-existing health issues.

 

• According to health experts, since the fine particulate matter in the air can easily penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, any form of exposure will certainly have long-term health consequences.
• The smog season, for instance, witnesses a significant rise in the asthma, bronchitis, and other kinds of respiratory diseases that are reportedly seen by the hospitals in Lahore.
• Generally, smog affects the quality of life, as the residents are often advised to stay indoors or even limit their outdoor activities.

Efforts To Fight The Crisis Of Smog

There have been increased calls for action over the issue of the smog hanging over the city of Lahore in the last few years. Air pollution-related health risks have become a matter of awareness among environmental activists, health experts, and concerned citizens, and rules over industries, vehicles, and agricultural practices have also been demanded to be stringent.

 

In this respect, the government has taken a few steps such as introducing Euro-2 emission standards for vehicles and electric vehicles' promotion. Campaigns encouraging further tree plantation have also been started. More efforts have been made towards reducing stubble burning by providing benefits to farmers for not burning them.

Conclusion

The smog condition in Lahore is caused by a combination of rapidly flowing urbanisation, unchecked industrial growth, vehicular emissions, agricultural practices, and weak environmental regulations. Efforts have been taken but a concerted and united response will be needed to alleviate the effects of smog upon this city's people and environment. It is only through unified action, both by government and by the public, that Lahore has any hope of reclaiming its air and protecting the health of its people.

Please book an appointment with the best Pulmonologist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through Instacare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find a verified doctor for your disease.