Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz did try to talk up her government’s efforts against the smog, but it came nonetheless, borne on a combination of straw-stubble burning in Indian Punjab, and the smoke let off by the Diwali festivities there. And what with the rains damaging the rice crop, stubble burning in Pakistan would not be contributing much to the problem. However, smoke from the east is only part of the problem. Talks between Pakistan and India, probably at the provincial level, are no longer possible. If they were, there is not all that much that could be done that is not being done already, particularly in the way of police action against farmers insistent on stubble burning as an integral means of preparing for the Rabi crop. Whatever the reason, the smog is back, a real-world manifestation of the distinction Lahore could do without, that of being the world’s most polluted city. That honour, if indeed honour it is, will change hands with New Delhi repeatedly over the next few months, but the unfortunate season of burning eyes, hacking coughs and a peculiar chemical taste in the very air itself, has well and truly arrived.
One essential means of tackling the smog has not been attempted, that of reducing the emissions from fuel engines. There are various tiers of the problem, the first one being two-wheelers, both commercial and private. Instead of going after two-wheelers with polluting engines, there should simply be a campaign directed towards their replacement. Some efforts have been made in this direction, but there has been no deadline set, after which internal-combustion-engine two wheelers will not be allowed on the road. One method to nudge people towards conversions would be to tax ICE vehicles.
Similarly, the next stage, that of transport, needs to be tackled. The polluting presence of goods and human transport vehicles should also be tackled by imposing taxes on ICE vehicles. The polluting potential of diesel engines should not be underestimated. It should also be noted that the problem of range for commuter vehicles will become irrelevant for vehicles undertaking short-term commutes. Electric vehicles hold out the prospect of rendering unnecessary the pollution caused by the internal combustion engine. Lahore’s smog problem obliges it to be a leader in adopting the EV. It should be noted that the problem will probably be eliminated by a partial conversion. This makes more sense that chasing after smog guns and air purifier towers, which might dent the problem, but not solve it.
