Punjab’s Smog Crisis: A Closer Look at Causes and Controversies

While looking at the environmental issues, Punjab’s Smog Crisis is seen as a critical issue particularly the cities of Lahore and Delhi across the India-Pakistan border, are grappling with severe smog conditions. Both cities have recently experienced hazardous air quality levels with the blame frequently cast on neighboring regions. However, a deeper examination reveals that multiple local and cross-border factors are at play.
The Real Cause of Punjab’s Smog Crisis
پنجاب میں سموگ کی حقیقی وجوہات
پنجاب میں اسموگ کا شدید بحران ہے جو کہ لاہور اور دہلی کو متاثر کر رہا ہے، اسکی بنیادی وجوہات میں مقامی عوامل جیسے صنعتی آلودگی، گاڑیوں کا دھواں اور شہری آبادی میں بے ہنگم اضافہ شامل ہیں، جبکہ سرحد پار فصلوں کی باقیات جلانے کا معمولی حصہ ہے۔ اس مسئلے کو حل کرنے کے لیے علاقائی تعاون اور فوری مقامی اقدامات کی ضرورت ہے تاکہ فضائی معیار کو بہتر بنایا جا سکے اور عوامی صحت کا تحفظ کیا جا سکے۔
پنجاب میں شدید سموگ کی لہر میں دونوں جانب سرحد پار آلودگی کا الزام عائد کیا جا رہا ہے۔ پاکستانی حکام ناسا کے ڈیٹا کی بنیاد پر دعویٰ کرتے ہیں کہ بھارتی پنجاب سے آنے والا دھواں لاہور کی فضائی آلودگی کا سبب بنتا ہے، جبکہ بھارتی ماہرین کے مطابق ہوا کی کم رفتار کے باعث آلودگی کے ذرات اتنی دور تک سفر نہیں کر سکتے۔
گرین ماسٹر پلان کی رپورٹ کے مطابق لاہور میں سموگ کی وجوہات میں مقامی صنعتی آلودگی، گاڑیوں کا دھواں، اور کم ہوتے سبز مقامات شامل ہیں۔ ماہرین کا کہنا ہے کہ الزام تراشی کے بجائے دونوں ممالک کو فضائی آلودگی پر قابو پانے کے لیے مشترکہ اقدامات کرنے کی ضرورت ہے۔
Smog Blame Game of Cross-Border Pollution
The issue of cross-border pollution is hotly debated between Pakistan and India. Pakistani officials, referencing NASA satellite data, argue that pollution from crop burning in Indian Punjab drifts over to Lahore, worsening the city’s air quality. They contend that the smog intensifies when easterly winds carry pollutants across the border.
Indian Punjab officials, however, dispute this claim. Experts at the Punjab Agricultural University and the Punjab Pollution Control Board in India argue that local wind speeds in the region are often too low to carry particles from crop burning across long distances to Lahore and Delhi. They also highlight research showing that stubble burning contributes a little to pollution levels in Delhi, accounting for around 4.44% of the city’s air pollution this year. Indian experts suggest that other local pollution sources in Pakistan are significant contributors to Lahore’s smog problem.
Local Factors Driving Smog in Lahore
A recent report from Pakistan’s Green Master Plan identifies six primary causes of the smog crisis in Lahore, emphasizing local development and urbanization as key factors. Rapid construction has transformed Lahore into a “concrete jungle,” with reduced green spaces increasing temperatures and creating a heat island effect. This urban transformation exacerbates pollution and smog during winter.
Additional factors include:
Industrial Pollution: Approximately 33 square kilometers of industrial zones are situated near residential areas in Lahore. The report warns that if these industries are not moved to designated zones, Lahore could suffer irreversible environmental damage within the next decade.
Vehicle Emissions: The rise in vehicles on the road contributes significantly to Lahore’s smog. Without strict emissions controls and traffic management, vehicular pollution continues to pollute the air quality.
Landfill Emissions: Methane emissions from nearby landfill sites contribute to worsening air quality. The Green Master Plan recommends building scientifically designed landfill sites away from residential areas to reduce the impact on urban air quality.
Calls for Action and Emergency Measures to End Punjab’s Smog Crisis
The severe smog situation has prompted officials to call for immediate action. Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has called for a smog emergency, stressing that the province needs coordinated efforts to combat pollution. The Punjab government has directed shopping malls and commercial buildings to install air purifiers as a preventive measure. However, the proposed closure of markets and educational institutions to reduce pollution has met resistance from traders and local stakeholders.

The Punjab Government has launched a project named Chief Minister of Punjab’s Roadmap for Smog Mitigation in Lahore and it includes developing a comprehensive transport plan to improve air quality and reduce pollution.
The Road Ahead: Solutions and Regional Cooperation
Experts agree that assigning blame won’t resolve the smog crisis; instead, collaborative efforts are essential. In India, some advocates, like Amarjeet Mann, an Ayurvedic doctor and farmer, are working to curb crop burning by providing machinery to dispose of crop residue without burning it. Similarly, Pakistani environmental officials are emphasizing the need for systemic changes in urban planning, emissions control, and sustainable waste management to improve Lahore’s air quality.
Read more about the Research, News, and Announcements here.