Most polluted in the world

Failing to pay heed to a worsening problem. It was a distinction Pakistan could do without. The country has no reason to be pleased that it has toppled Chad as the smoggiest country in the world in 2024, according to Swiss air monitoring firm IQ Air’s latest report. And that too on a technicality, because the data of Chad, the most polluted country in 2023, was not complete for 2024. It might be fashionable to blame anything environment-related to climate change, but that will not wash when talking about air pollution. After all, it has been noticeable in recent years in winter months, and apart from the havoc it plays with morning and night traffic, it causes difficulties for asthmatics, the very young, the very old, anyone with not to mention the peculiar taste in the mouth, as of petrochemicals.

That is the residue of one of the main causes of air pollution, which is the exhaust of internal combustion engines burning petrol or diesel. The emission of greenhouse gases causing climate change is not the issue so much as their immediate spoiling of the air, because of the particulate matter which is spewed into the atmosphere. It only makes it worse than fuel contains polluting additives, and vehicles, especially two- and three-wheelers, have engines emitting smoke because they have not burnt the fuel efficiently. A switch to electric vehicles is not just necessary because it helps stop the emission of greenhouse gases, or because it stops foreign exchange being spent on petroleum imports, but because it will alleviate air pollution. Such steps as checking engines on a mass scale have been taken, but there is still much more to be done. The government has also a responsibility to prevent industrial pollution, which is another major source of pollution. Brick kilns are another major source of pollution, as well as the burning of crop residue.

Pakistan labours under sufficient image difficulties, like being a hotbed of fanaticism, terrorism and poverty, that it does not want the; most polluted’ label. It is bad enough being known as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, to be involved in another environmental catastrophe. India and China are also highly polluted, but at least they have the excuse they are industrializing. Pakistan’s industries are contracting rather than growing, so that excuse is out.