🚨 Pakistan has officially been ranked the most polluted country on Earth.
With Faisalabad (98.8 µg/m³), Rahim Yar Khan (92.6 µg/m³), and Lahore (88.9 µg/m³) leading the crisis, 4 of the world's top 10 most polluted cities are right here.
But how do we fix it? Read our latest article on why we must move from panic to data-driven policy.
What’s going into your lungs, #Lahore?
An installation has been set up in a University in the city (i.e. lots of green space, away from traffic, construction, etc). One side has a working fan inside to depict physical breathing inside our bodies. #SaansLenayDo
1st image (Nov 6th) 2nd image (Nov 10th)
The science says no. Lahore's new 'Anti-Smog Guns' look like action, but are they a solution or just expensive 'smog theatre'?
@abido new @dawn_com article, we examine the evidence. (Spoiler: it's not good).
My latest for The News 📰’Polar bears in the Sahara’
Islamabad, long hailed as Pakistan’s ‘green city’, is on the fast track to environmental collapse.
https://t.co/y3UlQ0L6ub
Civil society will not let them “develop” the Margallah Hills National Park and adversely affect the fragile ecology. We must fight to preserve park for future generations to enjoy nature & to save the wildlife… we want ecosystem restoration & not ecosystem destruction!
Totally wrong information
@rinasaeed was volunteering for the role. She has done some amazing work in her tenure and is a victim of monal and CDA politics
This week, the federal government dissolved the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and reconstituted it, replacing independent experts with bureaucrats.
The IWMB is an autonomous body mandated to protect and conserve the Margalla Hills National Park.
Why is the government interested in taking over the IWMB?
The Supreme Court's judgment regarding the Monal Restaurant may offer some clues:
Thread.🧵
Dawn’s launched the first mass media campaign in Pakistan covering the climate crisis, environmental pollution and building resilience. Looking forward to how broadly the messaging can be taken and affect public discourse.
@dawarhbutt has been emphasising that city-wide shutdowns need to be imposed in @LahoreSmog, Gujranwala & Multan for upto 3-days. The cycle of emissions and pollutant buildup needs to be stopped to bring immediate relief.
The PAQx Pakistan Air Quality experts’ group — convened by @PakAirQuality @dawarhbutt — suggests taking these three urgent actions for cleaner air during the ongoing smog #emergency in Punjab.
#breathelife
This figure shared by Khawaja Asif is inaccurate. While Transport sector is the largest contributor towards emissions, it’s nowhere near 90% responsible
Industry, crop burning and brick kilns still have a large proportion of share in emissions during smog season
Smog in Pakistan - requires radical actions to limit fossil fuel burning machines (factories, cars etc), with countries like China demonstrating it is possible. There are many talented people in our county who could advise and implement successful strategies.
#News Lahore pollution 120 times higher than safe levels: Unprecedented levels of poisonous smog have infested Lahore, Pakistan, threatening the health of millions of people with tiny cancer-inducing particles known as PM2.5.#climatechange#pollution… https://t.co/x6gFN2Sr5p
My 3-year-old grandniece, Amal, has filed a historic petition in Lahore High Court thu her parents, both lawyers, to uphold the constitutional right to a clean environment. Case highlights lack of emissions testing, EPA enforcement, public awareness of pollution. #smogfreepunjab
This letter from @PakAirQuality to the Prime Minster highlights quite well what are the actions needed to be taken immediately and over long term
Only a full understanding of why smog appears, air pollution sources and measures required to counter will help improve air quality