A Multi-Sectoral Policy is Needed to Tackle Air Pollution

Status of Air Pollution in Peshawar (SAPP) report launched by Peshawar Clean Air Alliance provides a comprehensive analysis of Peshawar air quality which aims to bridge existing gaps in real time air quality data, with evidence based indicators and future policy direction for Peshawar Air-Quality Management Plan (PAQMP). It shall enable policy makers towards multi-sectoral and integrated governance on air quality mitigation, and intergovernmental collaboration with the civil society. With multiple sources of emissions including formal and informal industrial, vehicular, brick kilns and municipal waste incineration, the report serves as an eye opener with regards to transport and vehicular sector being the top contributor that deserves immediate action plan alongside other sectors. This report will no doubt help focus policy action towards the neglected transport sector.

Dr. Asif Khan, a consultant on Climate Change & Water for ADP, said, “the KP transport sector stands at 3rd rank compared to Punjab and Sindh. Overall, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in KP from transport is 5.66 million tons of CO2. The government needs to follow up with appropriate actions, like VETS revitalization, reduction in taxation on e-cars and hybrid cars, reducing congestion by introducing vehicular taxation in urban areas during peak hours, reducing congestion by improved traffic engineering & signals to minimize traffic congestion, public awareness together with improving road networks”.

Vehicles with visible emissions should also be considered as a punishable public/traffic offense, with on the spot penalties by traffic wardens. He further noted that “other mitigation measures can be undertaken, like invoking the Article 9: Right to Life under which Right to Clean Air falls. A Clean Air Act should be notified by the provincial government, according to Provincial Air quality standards as mentioned in KP’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines”. A directive was also issued on 15/12/2021 by Director Transport & Mass Transit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to “all educational institutions regarding enforcement of a ban on old vehicles registered before December 2000 or model year 2000 to ply on any route in the province after 15-01-2022 with a grace period of one month to the vehicle owners for replacement of old vehicles. Strict enforcement will be carried out after expiry of the grace period”. Despite a lapse of six months the directive has been ignored by the powerful school lobby. Inaction by relevant authorities against these schools owing to their political and financial clout needs to be challenged as the toxic emissions are posing a serious hazard to the cognitive & physical health of the young students and public at large. Dr. Prof. Asif Khattak, Environmental Science, UoP commented, “The directive is meant to reduce air pollution caused by polluting old vehicles run on diesel fuel. However, there are many other important steps contributing to emissions, such as action on old public and government transport including school buses, cars, rickshaws, and wagons, ensuring better driving standards, enforcement of the existing traffic rules, mandatory annual vehicular emission tests for a holistic approach.”

In the present scenario, owing to the lack of capacity of the EPA, environmental policing can be considered as a policy measure to mitigate serious public health hazards. Introduction of “Environmental/Green Police” can be given a regulatory authority under EPA to impose environmental penalties on the offenders as is practiced in many countries. This can range from financial to administrative penalties for public polluters and finally imposing a ban on such vehicles. Almost all school buses and heavy vehicles are the most toxic polluters and deserve to be fined heavily. The vehicle penalties can be categorized according to the size and level of emissions; e.g, light (rickshaws & motorbikes), medium (cars & taxis), and heavy vehicles (trucks, buses & trackers etc). This salutary policy to assist EPA could help raise money through introduction of a “green tax”. Green policing can also help implementation by regulatory authorities, as a visibly emitting vehicle should be considered a public crime and banned from plying on streets through strict administrative measures.

Besides, industrial (large, medium and small, formal and informal) brick kilns etc, solid waste burning is a major polluter that involves various tiers/levels of administration e.g., the local government, PDA, TMA, WSSP, waste disposal contractors and TMA, DMAs etc. Therefore, a multi-sectoral approach is needed. Solid waste management plans for disposal other than incineration should be incorporated under District management.

Improving air quality is a long term effort. It requires a shared vision that’s longer than the political cycle and a multi-sectoral approach as envisioned by the air quality report. This policy serves to align with the ambitious KP Climate Change Policy & Action plan 2022 which is poised to lead in reduction of existing emissions to 50% in line with proposed national targets by 2030. Hence, interactive partnerships among the civil society, academia, and public health experts and government can realize the vision for healthy Peshawar. PCAA is looking forward to working in liaison with EPA and the government of KP for the fulfillment of a shared vision of clean air in Peshawar, and KP.

Dr. Adil Zareef is the Convener of the Peshawar Clean Air Alliance and Assistant Professor, Public Health at the Northwest Medical College, Peshawar.