Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan with a population of over 7 million people. It has many historical monuments but suffers from severe air pollution problems due to vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and waste burning. Air quality monitoring shows pollution levels regularly exceed WHO standards. The main sources of pollution are vehicular emissions, particularly from motorcycles and auto rickshaws running on two-stroke engines, as well as lack of enforcement of environmental regulations. Improving the situation requires stricter laws, monitoring of air quality and emissions, promotion of alternative fuels like CNG, and better urban planning and waste management.

1. LAHORE
The heart of Pakistan
By:
Muhammad Aleem

2. Background
Area
1772 Sq.Km
Population
Profile
7.2 million
• Lahore - second largest city of Pakistan.
• Many historical monuments
• City is also known for its beautiful gardens mostly
laid down during Mughal Empire and British Raj.
Administration • The City District Government is headed by the City
Nazim.
• Assisted by District Coordination Officer (DCO) as
the Administrative head.
• Departments are grouped and placed under
Executive District Officers, who are subordinate to
the DCO .

5. Climate

6.  Air Pollution
 Water Contamination
 Solid Waste Disposal
 Hazardous Waste Disposal
 Noise Pollution
 Municipal Sewerage Waste Disposal

8. Main Sources of Air Pollution
Vehicular Emissions

9. Main Sources of Air
Pollution
Burning of Municipal Solid Waste

10. Main Sources of Air Pollution
Cottage/ Major Industrial Pollution

11. Air Monitoring Data of Lahore March 2001
Parameter
Spot
WHO/ USEPA
Standards
NOx PM10
(ppb (Ug/m
3)
150
SO2
Ppb
CO
ppm
NO2
ppb
Noise
db(A)
50
09
107
65
Azadi
Crossing
125
850
25
1
90
Qartaba
Crossing
Chauburji
Crossing
Charring
Crossing
214
456
11
_
58
82
58
430
4.7
3.1
41
_
328
1100
4.7
7.2
50
78
Based on 24 Hour Monitoring
Source: EPA Punjab

12. Air Monitoring Data of Lahore, October 2004
Parameter
Spot
NOx PM10
(ppb) (Ug/m3)
SO2
Ppb
CO
ppm
NO2
ppb
Noise
db(A)
WHO/
USEPA
Standards
-
150
50
09
107
65
Azadi
Crossing
167
882
29
3
89
75
Qartaba
Crossing
192
640
47
3
67
82
Chauburji
Crossing
135
534
23
3.1
71
78
Charring
Crossing
321
963
41
7.3
71
78
Source: EPA Punjab

13.  One Air Quality Monitoring Lab
(Mobile) is available with the
Punjab EPA.
 Lack of Air Monitoring Equipment
 No readily available data for the Air
Quality
 Most of the assessments are made
on visual assessments
 Winters are worse when smog and
fog engulfs the city.

14. • Health Problems
– Bronchial Irritation
–Heart Problems
–Anemia
–Asthma
–Eye Irritation
–Reparatory Diseases
–Serious consequences relation to new born and
unborn babies.

15.  Lack of Awareness about the
Environmental issues in
general as well as the
adverse affects of poor Air
Quality and the Remedial
measures amongst:
 General Public
 Politicians
 Vehicle Operators
 Managers
 This Non- Awareness
especially pertains to the Air
Pollutants i.e. PM10, SO2,
CO, NOx.
 Absence of permanent
monitoring facilities.

16.  Lack of Political Will:
 For the Enforcement of the
Environmental Law
 For the Sustainable Policy on
the Environment
 For Environment Friendly
Projects
 For priority based budgetary
allocations to the Environment
sector

17. More priority on the
Infrastructure
Development
Less or NO priority to the
Sustainable Development
Policies
No Environmental Impact
Assessment for the major
projects

18.  Lack of proper Transport Policy
 Weak coordination mechanism Motor-cycle Rickshaw- Bigger Nuisance
between various stake holders
associated with Transport
 Transport Policy/ guidelines which
are not Environment friendly
 One nuisance replaces another
nuisance
 Tonga/ Horse carts were replaced by
Motorcycle rickshaws which have
brought more nuisance and air
pollution to the city.

19. Motor-cycle Rickshaw- Bigger Nuisance
Two Stroke Rickshaws are major
source of Vehicular Air Pollution

20. Transport Policy:
Motorcycle and Auto- Rickshaws are the
most Polluting and Unsafe

21. More Traffic on the Roads and still
NO PLANNING OR
PROPER POLICY

22.  Major source of Vehicular Air
Pollution
 No Policy to check the emission
of Two stroke vehicles
 No equipment for the annual
passing of the two stroke
vehicles
 No investment has gone into the
fresh research of the two stroke
manufacturers
 Local Manufacturers of Two
stroke rickshaws rely on old and
obsolete technology.

23. No clear cut policy for
the elimination of aging
transport
Commuter Wagons and
Buses over 20 years are
still plying on the city
roads

24.  Vehicles still don’t meet environmental standards even in the presence of
Motor Vehicle Examiners (MVEs).
 No update of the knowledge
 Lack of Vehicle Emission Testing Equipment

25. 2000
2002
2003
2004
790790
867989
942553
1.1Million
9.76%
increase
8.5%
increase
14.3%
increase
•On average 10,000 vehicles are being registered
every Month
•Leasing Companies and Banks have played a major
role in the un-precedented increase in the vehicles

26.  No Master Plan of the City in
place.
 Lack of land use planning
leading to Haphazard
urbanization
 No Environmental Impacts
Assessment for any housing
scheme
 Ill- planned commercial
Centers
 Non-sustainable policies

27. Monument
and Building
Degradation
Badshahi Mosque under threat
from the air pollution

28.  There is little or no support from the NGOs or Private/ Civil Societies
 Public Pressure is not present
 Public interest is lacking

29.  Due to lack of Standards
proper implementation
under PEPA 1997 is
lacking
 PEPA-1997 at this stage is
not affective
 Air Quality Standards not
in place
 Action is being taken
under section 61 of the
Punjab Local Government
Ordinance 2001
 On few occasions cases
under Pakistan Penal Code
has also been registered
with the Police.
 No legislation for Motors
 No dedicated courts

30. • The powers of the Act have not been delegated
to the District level hence the whole procedure
takes longer time.
•Environment Tribunal has been working but
without the proper NEQS & Rules, no case has
been decided as yet.
•Implementation of the Act and remedial
measures take too long.

31. Section 61 states
“Damaging or polluting
physical environment,
inside or outside
private or public
premises, in a manner
to endanger public
health”.
One month
imprisonment and fine
of up to Rs. 5,000 fine.
In the last two years,
fine of over Rs.3.5 lacs
has been collected from
the polluting industry.

32. Getting any
Environmental law
implemented is the
major hurdle for any
remedial measures
In the absence of the
Magistracy, Police has to
play a role of
implementation agency
BUT
No commitment has yet
been shown by the
police in any
environmental field

33.  Very less priority is given to the
Environmental field in the financial
sector
 Few environment related projects
are given funds

34.  Over 85 stations have been given
NOC in the last three years
 CNG is in demand due to economic
benefits.
 Lack of policy guidelines from the
Government.

35. City Government’s Response to the ProblemsSteps Taken
 Road Infrastructure
 Introduction of Urban
Franchised System
 Raids at petrol Stations to
check adulteration of both
Oil and Petrol.
 Periodic Campaigns against
smoke emitting vehicles
 Setting deadline for the
banning of manufacturing of
Two Stroke
TOWN HALL

36. Way Forward
Installation of Air Monitoring Station
Air Quality Standards to be prescribed
Monitoring on regular basis
Proper Land use planning
Sustainable Urban Transport Planning
Stringent environmental Law to be promulgated
Dedicated staff and Courts for deterring the
punishments and Fines.

37. VEHICLES
Gradual induction of CNG buses
No new registration of two stroke engine vehicles
Roadworthy certificate mandatory for all vehicles
Stringent actions against smoke emitting vehicles
Introduction of FOUR stroke three wheelers
FUELS
Fuel Quality monitoring/ surveillance
Regular and stringent checking of petrol pumps for
adulteration.
Campaign to promote CNG as an environmental friendly fuel
Introduction of low sulphur diesel.

38. Way Forward…………………
IMPROVED INFRASTRUCTURE
Better network of roads and maintenance of damaged
and unpaved roads
Improvement in existing traffic engineering and planning
Plantation of trees and green belts
 Public Private Partnership in Air Quality Management
 Health Impact Studies
 Comprehensive source apportionment studies
 Strengthening technical and institutional capacity
 Strengthening Air Quality Monitoring, Data Management and
Analysis
 Improve understanding of Emission Sources.
 Proper Legislation/ rules and Standards.

39. Strict action against the
burning of the Solid
Waste
Strict action against
Smoke Emitting Vehicles
Strict action against
adulteration of Mobil oil.
Action against
polluting Brick Kilns