When Air Turns Toxic: Lahore, Delhi, and the Smog Diplomacy

When smog blankets Lahore and Delhi, it’s not just a bad air day; it’s a full-blown crisis—a climate-induced public health crisis that demands urgent “smog diplomacy.” 

The issue of smog has plagued Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city for over a decade. This environmental issue gets especially worse each winter, as cold air traps pollutants close to the ground, and exacerbates air quality.

Meanwhile, Delhi, with its population of over 25 million, is struggling under a thick blanket of toxic smog. Things have taken a turn for the worse this year as a heavy haze settled over the city, largely fueled by the smoke from firecrackers set off during the Diwali celebrations. As the festive lights flickered, the air quality plummeted to hazardous levels, reminding everyone just how severe the pollution problem has become.

Lahore’s Annual Struggle with Toxic Air 

The “city of gardens” has topped global rankings for the worst air quality several times. Over the weekend, Lahore’s Air Quality Index (AQI) spiked to an alarming 1,800. This made it the most polluted city in the world. The Pakistani government announced on Sunday that all primary schools in northeastern Lahore will remain closed for a week. The decision comes as air quality worsened to a record level due to thick smog. 

As Pakistan’s cultural capital and home to over 14 million people, Lahore frequently contends with a toxic blend of smog and pollutants. This severe air pollution is largely attributed to stubble burning by farmers in neighboring India, as well as emissions from industry and vehicles.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is advocating for “smog diplomacy” with Indian Punjab. She urges cross-border Pakistan-India cooperation to tackle the region’s shared climate challenges. To curb pollution levels, she has enforced measures aimed at reducing emissions and improving air quality in Lahore. The Director General of the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency, Imran Hamid Sheikh, has issued a green lockdown for Lahore to combat smog. This approach includes restrictions on construction activities and the use of generators. Additionally, it targets other pollution sources after 8 pm in high-impact areas to mitigate the smog’s effects.

Also See: Health dept to have climate change cell

Stubble Burning and Shared Air Quality Challenges

One of the key factors worsening Lahore’s smog is the cross-border burning of crop stubble in Indian Punjab. This practice releases massive amounts of particulate matter into the air. It affects cities close to the border, including Lahore and New Delhi, which share similar struggles with high AQI levels during this period. Recent AQI readings in New Delhi also reached hazardous levels. This situation underscores how regional practices and climatic conditions contribute to the smog crisis on both sides of the border. The climate crisis, driven by rising global temperatures and unsustainable agricultural practices, intensifies the impact. This leads to prolonged periods of poor air quality that worsen each year.

Urban planning and deforestation have also played significant roles in intensifying smog in Lahore and Delhi. Both cities have experienced rapid urbanization with limited green spaces and inadequate air filtration measures, amplifying pollution levels. The absence of trees and greenery makes these areas particularly vulnerable to airborne pollutants, turning the natural environment into an enabler rather than a mitigator of pollution.

The Need for “Smog Diplomacy”

Addressing this challenge requires cooperative climate diplomacy, as both India and Pakistan stand to benefit from collaborative air quality initiatives. 

Smog diplomacy is not merely a buzzword or a proposal; it is a necessity—an invitation to work together to tackle a crisis that knows no boundaries.

Platforms like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) offer a potential avenue for dialogue and mutual commitment. They can help tackle shared environmental crises. By strengthening regional policies and enforcing stricter regulations on practices like stubble burning, both countries could mitigate seasonal smog. This cooperation could also set a precedent for addressing broader climate issues.

The recurring smog crisis calls for sustainable policy reforms, better urban planning, and regional cooperation to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for the people of Lahore, Delhi, and other affected areas.

In the end, it is not just the cities that suffer but the hearts and lungs of their people; together, they must reclaim the skies that once held the promise of crisp, clear winter days.