Prioritizing Air Pollution in Urban Environmental Governance

Without prioritizing air pollution in urban environmental governance, the threats to the future of cities cannot be effectively addressed

• To achieve this, the roles and responsibilities of local governance must be clearly defined and enacted

By Zahid Ali

Climate change and environmental degradation present serious global challenges, and countries around the world are continuously struggling to address them. Pakistan is no exception, particularly when we consider the severe pollution affecting its cities. Over the past year, Lahore and other cities in Punjab experienced alarming levels of air pollution. Residents in Lahore faced a health emergency, prompting the Punjab provincial government to close schools and offices. This situation created significant economic and social challenges for ordinary citizens. Karachi, often referred to as the economic hub of Pakistan, has unfortunately become one of the most unlivable cities in the world. It can be argued that air and waste pollution within Pakistani cities are among the most critical anthropogenic issues in urban environmental governance. Human activities such as industrial emissions, transportation, and urban housing patterns have rendered these cities unsafe and harmful to both people and the ecosystem.

As a student of anthropology, I developed a keen interest in conducting research that sheds light on the issues threatening both human and non-human life on our planet. My focus on air pollution led me to investigate its sources, scale, levels, and the aspects of urban environmental degradation. I began my ethnographic research on air pollution and urban environmental degradation in Nawabshah city.

In urban Nawabshah, air pollution and heat have become increasingly significant concerns. Over the past few decades, the city’s urbanization, population growth, and changes in infrastructure have expanded Nawabshah and accelerated harmful human activities. These include the development of industries like sugar mills, railways, markets, hotels, transportation systems, and urban waste management. Additionally, research data reveal that urban heat in Nawabshah has reached unbearable levels, with summer temperatures soaring up to 51°C. This intensifies health risks, particularly due to the extensive deforestation in the region. Despite government acknowledgment of these issues, there remains a lack of public awareness campaigns, contributing to the severity of the problem. High humidity levels further exacerbate the urban environmental challenges faced by residents.

In urban Nawabshah, air pollution and heat have become increasingly significant concerns. Over the past few decades, the city’s urbanization, population growth, and changes in infrastructure have expanded Nawabshah and accelerated harmful human activities

My ethnographic research indicates that Nawabshah is facing serious air pollution issues, primarily due to these harmful anthropogenic activities. One of the most critically affected areas is near the Sugar Mill, where substantial smog and particulate matter are emitted, especially during the winter months. These emissions from the Sugar Mill have been directly linked to health problems in the surrounding communities. Residents have reported a range of health issues, including eye infections, allergies, and asthma, which they believe are caused by the toxic emissions. During my fieldwork, community members expressed their concerns about these public health impacts. My research study findings demonstrate that particulate matter (PM) levels in Nawabshah exceed the WHO-recommended limits, categorizing the city’s air quality as unhealthy. Air quality readings recorded during my ethnographic research across different locations within the city confirm the unhealthy and bad quality air levels. My research shows that Nawabshah’s increasing population and urbanization contributes to environmental degradation, particularly due to a rise in vehicular emissions.

The pivotal role of provincial and local government institutions is crucial in tackling environmental governance issues through the implementation of best practices in town planning and municipal services. In my field research, I conducted interviews with local government officials, who showed limited awareness of air pollution, urban heat, and general urban environmental governance. Although they acknowledged the urgency of urban environmental degradation and recognized its relevance in contemporary society, they did not devote significant attention to mitigating these issues.

During the interviews, it became clear that local government lacked a vision and concrete urban development projects aimed at achieving a green transition and urban environment protection within the city. This situation highlights the need for training and capacity-building initiatives for local district government departments, enabling them to prioritize urban environmental governance and climate change adaptation.

Furthermore, it appeared that local government departments were largely unaware of the challenges posed by urbanization and overpopulation in their governance and planning efforts. To better understand the role of urban environmental governance, I also interviewed officials from the Sindh Environment Protection Agency (SIPA), which is responsible for environmental protection at the local district level. SIPA holds the official authority and responsibility for local urban environmental governance. While SIPA officials expressed their commitment to protecting the environment in the city, my research indicated that they also lacked the sensitivity and capacity to effectively address air pollution. Specifically, they were deficient in technical resources, including modern scientific tools, technologies, and laboratories necessary for measuring air quality index and take measures for the reduction of urban pollution.

Transportation is a significant source of air pollution and negatively impacts urban quality of life, leading to environmental degradation, heat, and extreme weather. My study suggests that the transport department plays a negligible role in addressing transport emissions and urban environmental deterioration in Nawabshah. Additionally, the toxic emissions from vehicles contribute to health problems within local communities. Residents identified a clear correlation between air pollution and health issues, such as asthma and eye infections.

S.NO   LOCATIONS         PM(2.5) PM(10)  AQI        RESULT

1.       Mohni Bazar          191      339      165        Unhealthy
2.       PUMHS                 112      199       188        Unhealthy
3.       DR. COLONY         88        158       165        Unhealthy
4.       GOAL CHAKRA      87        153        167        Unhealthy
5.       Habib Sugar Mill   87        154        168        Unhealthy
6.       QUEST               121        214        168        Unhealthy

During my fieldwork, I measured Air Quality Index that validate the concerns of local residents of the city. My study data examined AQI levels of different locations in Nawabshah city that show that the air quality index of Nawabshah is unhealthy. The above table shows the AQI results that I recorded during my ethnographic research with the generous support of research and teaching staff at the Department of Environmental Engineering, QUEST Nawabshah.

Nawabshah City experiences extreme heat levels during the summer months. This extreme urban heat can be linked to several factors, including a congested population, rapid and uneven urbanization, unchecked transportation emissions, and a lack of greenery and green belts. Nawabshah Hospital has reported significant health impacts related to exposure to particulate matter. Air pollution has a considerable effect on human health. During my visit to Nawabshah PMC Hospital, patients reported issues with respiratory diseases. Similarly, at the children’s hospital in Nawabshah, a large number of children were admitted due to respiratory illnesses. This situation can be directly connected to the poor public health conditions caused by air pollution and an unhealthy urban environment.

The provincial and local government departments need to tackle the issue of urban pollution in Nawabshah. They must effectively fulfill their governance responsibilities to protect the urban environment and ensure a sustainable future for the city. People around the world are uniting in their efforts for climate justice, and federal, provincial, and local governments must take both financial and political responsibility to safeguard the urban environment and create livable cities for future generations. Without prioritizing air pollution in urban environmental governance, the threats to the future of cities cannot be effectively addressed. To achieve this, the roles and responsibilities of local governance must be clearly defined and enacted.

Read: Air pollution resulting by common mismanagement in Pakistan

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Zahid Ali holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Sindh, Jamshoro. This article is based on his ethnographic research project, conducted during his final semester, which focused on air pollution and urban environmental governance in Nawabshah/Shaheed Benazirabad