ISLAMABAD: In response to Lahore's deteriorating air quality, reflected in unprecedented Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, posing serious health risks to its citizens and threatening the city's biodiversity, WWF-Pakistan suggested policy recommendations and strategic insights based on air quality data from 2013 to 2024.
In a detailed report, WWF-Pakistan says that Lahore’s air quality remains critically compromised year-round, primarily due to vehicular emissions, crop residue burning, industrial activities, and coal combustion.
The report outlines actionable steps to address these issues, including promoting electric vehicles (EVs), segregating industrial zones, expanding mass transit systems, and transitioning to renewable energy sources.
Commenting on the report, Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General WWF-Pakistan, emphasized the toll of persistent smog on public health and wildlife, particularly birds and other animals.
“The adoption of electric vehicles can help curb vehicular emissions, but financial subsidies and EV charging infrastructure are vital for this transition,” he says.
The report further recommends deploying cost-effective sensor-based monitoring systems to improve air quality surveillance.
WWF’s Director of the Freshwater Programme, Sohail Ali Naqvi, says that Lahore consistently ranks among the most polluted cities globally due to unchecked vehicular and industrial emissions, including poorly regulated brick kilns.