Pakistan is the most urbanized country in South Asia and resultantly most hit by the urban air pollution which is damaging health and quality of life of people on the one hand and economy and environment on the other hand. In Pakistan, the entire population of more than 240 million live in areas with annual average particulate levels higher than the WHO’s guidelines. Pakistan faces a fifth season every winter due to smog. Toxic air kills around 128000 annually in Pakistan. Karachi and Lahore, the two largest cities in the country, rank among the top ten cities for the world’s poorest air quality.

Rapid urbanization accompanied by environmental problems such as air pollution, ineffective waste management, traffic congestion and destruction of ecosystem are the major challenges that policy makers face in Pakistan. This situation is due to emissions from vehicles which are linked to high morbidity and mortality, biomass burning, coal combustion and industrial emissions and natural dust. The industrial sectors with high potential to impact air quality are cement, fertilizers, sugar, steel, power plants, brick kilns and plastic molding. Some of them use furnace oil high in Sulphur, others use waste for fuel such as old tyres, paper, wood and textile waste. Widespread use of diesel generators, lack of renewable energy, rapid vehicle growth, aging fleet of vehicles in poor condition, adulterated fuel, poor public transport and burning of solid waste and use of solid fuel such as wood, dung and agriculture waste are major challenges in the way of obtaining clean air.

The major life expectancy reduction by 4.3 years along with reduction in crop yield due to smog, poses food security challenge. In short, air pollution has significantly impacted, health of the citizens along with economic........

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