World Bank workshop: concern voiced over absence of authentic database on air quality

There is no authentic database on air quality in the country and, if at all some information is available, it is not well-documented, lack in co-ordination among different agencies, generally resulting in overlapping and sharing of highly technical data difficult.
This was consensus at the workshop, "Institutional analysis of air quality management in urban Pakistan," organised by the World Bank here on Wednesday. Expressing concern over the scarcity of data on air quality, the participants said that it hindered implementation of projects, and stressed the need for assessing the impact of air pollution in major cities to chalk out policies for damage control.
Environment Secretary Kamran Lashari, Director General of Pak-EPA Asif Shuja Khan, heads of the World Bank, national and international NGOs, representatives of provincial Pak EPA and other concerned departments were also present at the workshop. The speakers said that the lack of harmonised air pollution policies in the region had also contributed to the absence of the regional co-operation in addressing air quality issue threadbare. "Much work needs to be done to deal with the issue of air quality management in the country", the participants stressed.
They said that strong co-ordinated approaches would be required not only within the country, but also in the region for effective dissemination of information on air quality issues, collective learning and formulation of comprehensive integrated Air Quality Management (AQM) strategies.
In Pakistan, the deterioration of environment continued to affect livelihoods and health, thus increasing the vulnerability of the poor to natural disasters and environment-related conflicts. Surveys, carried out in the country by Pak EPA, Provincial EPAs and Suparco, revealed the presence of very high levels of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in major cities (about six times higher than the WHO's guidelines).
The World Bank in 2006 estimated the cost of environmental neglect and degradation to around Rs 365 billion per year. Experts consider that 60-70 percent urban air quality degradation is due to vehicular traffic. Almost all metropolitan cities have industrial estate where cluster of industries of different types exist.
Majority of cement, fertiliser, sugar units, power plants and steel furnaces located in the vicinity of towns cause excessive air pollution. The speakers said that the brick kilns were another source of pollution in many areas. Use of low-grade coal and old tyres in brick kilns generate dense black smoke (soot) and other kind of emissions. Out of 6,634 registered industries in Pakistan, 1,228 are considered to be highly polluting.
At present, it is estimated that 54,888 tons of solid waste is generated in Pakistan per day. Since none of the city has proper waste disposal system, the waste collected is either dumped in the low-lying areas or along the roadsides or set on fire. Burning of solid waste at low temperature not only generate particulate matters, CO, NO, but produce dioxin, a persistent organic pollutant, they said.
As indoor air pollution (IAP) has not been recognised as a hazard as yet, data is very sparse and not available in Pakistan, one study revealed. The report further said cooking and heating with biomass fuels or coal produced high level of indoor pollutants. There is consistent evidence that exposure to IAP can lead to acute respiratory infections and lungs cancer, it said.
It is a mere fact that environmental degradation eventually translates into socio-economic problems, which retard development and growth. There is a need to address environmental issues through policies and institutional reforms that create the right incentives for administrators to effectively enforce policies, and for polluters to comply with regulations.
In the short term, this may increase costs and utilise public funds that could be spent on other development concerns, the study said. However, these costs need to be balanced against the benefits of reducing environmental risks, lower pollution, brings health benefits and protecting the rangelands increases the resilience and earning capacity of pastures.
This calls for regulations and incentive structures that balance benefits and costs, and maximise the sustainability and growth potential of the economy. The regulatory framework needs to be updated to incorporate standards in the some priority areas, including health-based air quality standards, vehicle emission and fuel quality standards, building capacity for environmental management, strengthening capacity for effective environmental impact assessments, and improving technical capacity for air quality management, the study recommended.
Air quality management is relatively under funded in Pakistan. The capability of carrying out in-country emission inventory is limited, in fact it does not exists. An up-to-date inventory is required for policy decisions, devising emission standards as well as development of air quality action plans for key cities, the study lays emphasis on these initiatives.
To have a better Air Quality Management (AQM) in Pakistan, the areas that need to be strengthened include (i) air quality monitoring, (ii) capacity building of AQM sector, (iii) compliance to NEQS, (iv) emission inventory, and (v) co-ordination (among government ministries, local administrations, industries, enforcement agencies and other stakeholders) and exchange of information on air quality and AQM initiatives, it concluded.