Pakistan faces severe air quality crisis affecting millions in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

dawn.com November 21, 2024, 05:02 AM UTC

Air quality in Punjab and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reached alarming levels, affecting nearly 100 million people. Recent reports indicate that pollution is ten times worse than World Health Organization standards, leading to a health emergency. Rain may provide temporary relief, but pollution levels remain dangerously high. A 2014 World Bank study highlighted Pakistan's severe air pollution, linking it to 235,000 premature deaths annually. Despite recognizing the issue, policymakers have failed to implement effective measures. New policies aim for a 38% reduction in PM2.5 emissions by 2030, but lack proper monitoring and scientific baselines. The crisis calls for coordinated efforts across various sectors and better engagement with stakeholders. There is a need for a collaborative approach with neighboring India to address transboundary air quality issues. As Pakistan approaches its centenary in 2047, setting realistic environmental targets is crucial.


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Timeline:

  1. [4.2]
    Delhi schools shift to online learning as pollution crisis prompts call for health education reforms (hindustantimes.com)
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  2. [4.0]
    Delhi air quality worsens eye health with rise in allergies and dry eyes (timesnownews.com)
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  3. [4.9]
    Delhi faces severe air pollution as first clinic opens for affected patients (cnn.com)
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  4. [4.1]
    Delhi air quality improves to 'very poor' but health risks remain (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
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  5. [3.8]
    Delhi air quality improves slightly but remains very poor as temperatures drop to season's lowest (livemint.com)
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    Delhi air quality improves to very poor category with AQI of 379 (businesstoday.in)
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  7. [3.9]
    Delhi's air pollution crisis worsens as experts discuss causes and solutions (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
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  8. [4.4]
    Delhi schools to close as air quality worsens under new CAQM guidelines (thehindu.com)
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  9. [3.7]
    CAQM updates air quality plan with stricter measures in NCR (zeenews.india.com)
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  10. [3.6]
    Delhi air quality improves slightly but remains severe in many areas as smog persists (timesnownews.com)
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  11. [4.2]
    Delhi air quality improves slightly but remains severe as CAQM revises school guidelines (hindustantimes.com)
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  12. [4.6]
    Delhi faces severe air pollution crisis as smog levels soar to record highs (ft.com)
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  13. [4.2]
    Delhi NCR enforces stricter measures to tackle rising air pollution (ndtv.com)
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  14. [4.0]
    CAQM updates air quality rules to mandate school closures and staggered work hours (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  15. [3.4]
    Gurgaon air quality improves to 'very poor' but pollution hotspots persist (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  16. [4.0]
    Noida's air quality improves but is set to decline again today (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  17. [4.1]
    Delhi's air quality reaches hazardous levels as AQI hits 494 locally and 1,600 globally (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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    Survey shows 75% of Delhi-NCR families report health issues from air pollution (timesnownews.com)
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  19. [4.4]
    Delhi's air pollution linked to rising eye health issues among residents (zeenews.india.com)
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  20. [4.3]
    Delhi faces hazardous air pollution as authorities consider cloud seeding to combat smog (aljazeera.com)
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  21. [4.4]
    Survey finds every Delhi-NCR family has member with pollution-related health issues (hindustantimes.com)
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  22. [3.9]
    Delhi government orders 50% of staff to work from home as air quality worsens (zeenews.india.com)
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  23. [3.9]
    Gurugram wedding procession sparks outrage as participants light firecrackers amid hazardous air quality (timesnownews.com)
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  24. [3.6]
    Residents in Gurugram face backlash for bursting firecrackers as air quality worsens (livemint.com)
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  25. [4.4]
    Delhi pollution raises eye health concerns as issues increase by 40% (ndtv.com)
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  26. [4.9]
    Delhi government enforces work-from-home policy as air quality worsens (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
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  27. [4.1]
    Delhi government directs offices to implement work-from-home and staggered timings to reduce pollution (businesstoday.in)
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  28. [3.9]
    Viral video shows wedding procession in Gurgaon igniting firecrackers as air quality plummets (hindustantimes.com)
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  29. [3.7]
    Delhi University warns students of fake winter break notice and shifts classes online (livemint.com)
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  30. [4.2]
    Delhi explores cloud seeding to tackle severe air pollution (timesnownews.com)
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  31. [3.8]
    Delhi records severe air quality index of 426 as pollution debate intensifies (firstpost.com)
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  32. [4.3]
    Delhi's artificial rain project stalled as IIT Kanpur awaits government response (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
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  33. [3.9]
    Mohandas Pai criticizes Atishi and central government over Delhi's severe pollution crisis (businesstoday.in)
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  34. [3.8]
    Delhi faces severe air pollution crisis as winter sets in (news.yahoo.com)
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  35. [3.5]
    Delhi University issues warning about fake winter break notice (ndtv.com)
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  36. [4.1]
    Delhi explores cloud seeding to address severe air pollution crisis (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  37. [4.5]
    Delhi's air quality reaches alarming levels comparable to smoking 50 cigarettes a day (independent.co.uk)
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  38. [3.7]
    Delhi considers odd-even vehicle rule as air quality remains severe (timesnownews.com)
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  39. [4.3]
    Delhi air quality worsens to severe category as government implements work-from-home policy (thehindu.com)
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  40. [4.1]
    Delhi air quality slips back to severe as smog disrupts daily life (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  41. [4.7]
    Delhi government allows half of employees to work from home due to severe air pollution (hindustantimes.com)
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  42. [3.5]
    Delhi's air quality reaches severe levels as smog disrupts train services (zeenews.india.com)
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  43. [4.8]
    Delhi air quality worsens, market foot traffic declines sharply (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
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  44. [4.1]
    Delhi government enforces 50% work-from-home policy to combat air pollution (timesnownews.com)
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  45. [3.6]
    Delhi government awaits IIT Kanpur's response on cloud seeding proposal to tackle pollution (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  46. [4.1]
    Delhi air quality improves slightly but remains severe at 424; government offices shift to work-from-home (businesstoday.in)
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  47. [4.2]
    Delhi enforces work-from-home for half of government employees as air quality worsens (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  48. [4.5]
    Delhi government orders half of employees to work from home due to severe air pollution (ndtv.com)
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  49. [4.8]
    Delhi government implements work-from-home policy for half of employees as air quality worsens (livemint.com)
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  50. [3.9]
    Delhi's air pollution reaches dangerous levels posing health risks in just one hour of exposure (timesnownews.com)
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  51. [4.2]
    Delhi government allows half of staff to work from home as air quality worsens (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
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  52. [4.1]
    Delhi's air quality index hits 500 as pollution levels raise concerns about accuracy (hindustantimes.com)
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  53. [4.4]
    Delhi-NCR air pollution prompts work-from-home policy for corporate offices (businesstoday.in)
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  54. [4.1]
    Delhi air quality reaches hazardous levels as government suspends in-person classes (timesnownews.com)
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  55. [4.0]
    Delhi faces severe air pollution as winter sets in (bbc.com)
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  56. [4.3]
    Delhi air quality reaches hazardous levels as AQI hits 526 (livemint.com)
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  57. [3.4]
    Gurgaon records severe air quality index of 443 as pollution crisis deepens (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  58. [3.2]
    Gurgaon faces severe air pollution for second consecutive day as AQI remains hazardous (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  59. [3.3]
    Gurgaon advises offices to allow work from home due to air quality concerns (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  60. [3.6]
    NCR offices reinstate flexible hours and remote work as air quality worsens (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  61. [3.8]
    Air quality in Noida improves to very poor but visibility remains low (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  62. [4.7]
    India struggles to meet WHO air quality standards, former WHO chief scientist says (livemint.com)
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  63. [4.3]
    Delhi NCR sees surge in respiratory patients as air pollution reaches hazardous levels (livemint.com)
    1d 17h
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  64. [3.7]
    Jamia Millia Islamia shifts to online classes as Delhi air quality worsens (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
    1d 19h
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  65. [4.0]
    Delhi air quality readings show stark contrast as local and international measures differ (firstpost.com)
    1d 19h
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  66. [4.0]
    Gurugram advises private firms to adopt 50% work-from-home policy due to air pollution (timesnownews.com)
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  67. [3.3]
    Delhi seeks artificial rain as air quality worsens and political tensions rise (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  68. [4.7]
    Gurugram implements 50% work-from-home policy as air quality reaches severe levels (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
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  69. [3.8]
    Smog crisis disrupts production for 3.4 million MSMEs in northern India (timesnownews.com)
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  70. [4.0]
    Delhi's air pollution crisis highlights global concerns at COP29 in Baku (businesstoday.in)
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  71. [3.8]
    Delhi's severe air pollution sparks social media debate on moving to Bengaluru for cleaner air (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
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  72. [3.5]
    Delhi University shifts classes online until November 23 due to air pollution (hindustantimes.com)
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  73. [4.4]
    Delhi faces severe air pollution as smog blankets the capital (nbcnews.com)
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  74. [3.4]
    New Delhi faces hazardous smog as air quality worsens and authorities take action (express.co.uk)
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  75. [3.8]
    Noida balcony photo of yellow sky goes viral amid severe pollution concerns (hindustantimes.com)
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  76. [4.2]
    Delhi minister calls for central approval of artificial rain to combat pollution crisis (outlookindia.com)
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  77. [3.3]
    Dense smog causes fatal car pile-ups in Uttar Pradesh, two dead and several injured (livemint.com)
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  78. [4.2]
    Delhi faces hazardous air pollution crisis as levels reach index of 500 (outlookindia.com)
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  79. [4.5]
    Delhi minister seeks central approval for artificial rain to tackle pollution crisis (timesnownews.com)
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  80. [4.8]
    Delhi to decide on work-from-home and vehicle restrictions as air pollution worsens (economictimes.indiatimes.com)
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  81. [3.9]
    Toxic smog lingers over northern India as Delhi faces severe pollution (brecorder.com)
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