The recent Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) has described a rather grim picture of air pollution in South Asia and Pakistan in particular is one of the worst affected. However, pollution is still considered as dangerous for the health of the population: the decrease in pollution in 2022 was registered at the level of 18%, mainly due to the increased amount of precipitation in the region. The South Asia region on its part is still contributing almost 45% of global LEYs due to pollution. Estimating that if air quality reaches the WHO standard people of South Asia will live 3 more years. 5 years.
As in other parts of the developing world, the situation is especially critical in Pakistan. Although rates of particulate matter were reduced by 10% last year, people still have a loss of 3. Years lost because of pollution; they are as follows: Life: 3 years. In cities with worse conditions for pollution such as Lahore and Peshawar,, the period is more than five years. The report also highlights a stark inequality: users in heavily polluted locations suffer air pollution that reduces average life by two times if compared to less polluted regions. That’s equivalent to seven years in life expectancy, a one hundred percent increase in school enrolment, higher productivity levels as well as improvements in health-related quality of life.
These findings can therefore not be over-emphasized as they present challenges that require immediate intervention from the policy-makers. The situation with the number of vehicles and energy sources has worsened the pollution problem even in the past few years. Overall, the number of vehicles has almost four times since the early 2000s and the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation is three times more than in this period. This means that given no major policy shifts and no push towards using electric cars, embracing cleaner technologies, and regulating emissions the situation could turn even worse.
While certain actions have been taken, for instance, the government has placed more pollution monitors, and factories shutdown during the peak pollution period; all these need to form part of a comprehensive strategy. This judgment in Shehla Zia’s case not only confirmed the right to a healthy environment as the fundamental right of the people of Pakistan but also highlighted the importance of the formulation of overall sustainable and long-term policies for the protection of the health of the people and improvement of the qualitative environment in the country.