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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr. Musadik Malik on Friday said environmental degradation posed serious systemic risks to the global financial system, calling for stronger international cooperation and more accessible climate finance for vulnerable countries. The minister was speaking at a high-level leadership dialogue titled &ldquo;The Bottom Line: Why Tackling Environmental Degradation Is Critical to the Future of the Global Financial System,&rdquo; held on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, said a press release issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Climate Change on Saturday. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1999383452609839614&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=84e8dd3fdc87506bdfe0cb5416312fca06eeba51&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 832px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Dr. Malik&nbsp;highlighted the stark disparity faced by nations like Pakistan, noting that countries most affected by climate change have contributed the least to global emissions yet require substantial financial support to build resilience and protect development gains. &quot;Addressing climate change is a matter of collective global responsibility,&quot; Dr. Malik stated during his address, stressing the need for equitable financial flows and strong international cooperation. The dialogue brought together global leaders, policymakers, financial regulators and experts to discuss system-wide approaches aimed at redirecting private finance towards environmentally sustainable pathways. According to the press release, discussions focused on aligning financial flows with climate action, biodiversity protection, land restoration, pollution reduction and sustainable waste management, while strengthening long-term economic, social and environmental resilience. Participants underscored the importance of policy coherence, sound regulatory frameworks and whole-of-government approaches in creating enabling conditions for sustainable finance.&nbsp;Emphasis was also placed on mobilizing private capital for the transition of high-impact sectors and integrating environmental risks into financial decision-making. The minister reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to climate-resilient development and to supporting global efforts to align financial systems with environmental sustainability.

Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik, participated in a Leadership Dialogue held on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya. (PID)

Climate & Environment

During the UN Environment meeting, Pakistan warned that climate change threatens global financial stability and called for stronger international cooperation and equitable climate finance to support countries most affected despite contributing least to emissions.

At UN, Pakistan urges climate finance to counter financial risks

ISLAMABAD: Punjab&rsquo;s worsening air quality has turned into a public health emergency, with Lahore, the provincial capital, consistently ranking among the world&rsquo;s most polluted cities. But what are the main causes? Rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, and unregulated transportation growth have pushed fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels to nearly 10 times Pakistan&rsquo;s legal limit, making clean air a rare commodity for its 15 million residents. PM 2.5 is particulate matter, particles with diameters of 2.5 micrometers or smaller in the air. These are considered the most dangerous airborne pollutants because they are small enough to penetrate the bloodstream and are linked to various diseases, including cardiovascular problems and lung cancer. While PM2.5 is the most serious air quality issue, levels of other air pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides, also exceed international safety guidelines. &nbsp; Satellite data from the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) show that Lahore&rsquo;s air has remained &ldquo;unhealthy&rdquo; or &ldquo;very unhealthy&rdquo; for much of the past decade, with winter smog now an annual crisis. Sources of pollutionAccording to the Urban Unit&#39;s 2023 Sectoral Emissions Inventory and the World Bank&#39;s 2025 Program Information Document (PID), urban activity is the primary cause of air pollution in Punjab, accounting for around 75% of total emissions, with natural sources accounting for the remaining 25%. The urban proportion of the population has increased from 82% to 100%, during 1998-2017 in Lahore. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/3cde0d83-3789-4d22-9bf7-29ec4b2bda48.png" style="width: 527px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> Figure 1: Urban Sprawl in Lahore District ( Sectoral Emissions Inventory of Lahore) According to the data, the leading sources of PM2.5 pollution are: - The combustion of solid fuels for cooking and heating: (23% of residential emissions).- Transport (16%): car exhaust and road dust.- Industries and brick kilns (16%): especially cement, steel, and textile production.- Agriculture and livestock (13%): crop residue burning, fertiliser, and manure.- Municipal rubbish burning (7%): involves open dumping and flames. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/835d1259-93de-44e2-a5a3-d547769eab97.png" style="width: 605px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"> Figure 2: Visual mind map&nbsp; Residential and transport emissions in Greater Lahore have increased by 28% and 24%, respectively. Lahore&rsquo;s roads remain congested, with more than 7.4 million registered vehicles, 82% of them two-wheelers. The city operates only 27 kilometres of metro line and about 250 public buses, far short of the 4,000 required by 2026, the Punjab Mass Transit Authority reported. Does bordering with Delhi play a role?Yes, seasonally. Transboundary effects of air pollution are significant. According to the World Bank, 53% of PM2.5 in Punjab comes from within the province, 9% from adjacent provinces, and 13% from across the border. Satellite data from CAMS and Reuters reporting suggest that stubble burning in northwestern India and northern Pakistan produces smoke plumes that worsen winter smog. However, inventories reveal that although cross-border smoke contributes only occasionally, local transportation, industrial, and residential emissions contribute to poor air quality year-round.&nbsp; Regulations, law &amp; enforcementThe Punjab government has implemented many policies, including the 2017 Smog Control Policy, the 2023 Clean Air Policy, and the 2024 Smog Mitigation Action Plan. These address emissions from transportation, agriculture, and industry while encouraging behavioural change and citizen engagement. <img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/048a1983-c034-4873-a8e4-5fadd3e04446.jpg" style="width: 577px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">&nbsp;Source: Punjab Clean Air Program (PCAP) According to the Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD), the province is expanding its air quality monitoring network by installing reference stations and low-cost sensors to ensure real-time transparency. Hundreds of brick kilns have been sealed for noncompliance, and enterprises must install emission-control equipment. At the federal level, the Ministry of Climate Change and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency are implementing Euro fuel requirements, periodic vehicle inspections, and scrappage programs for old diesel fleets. Agricultural burning prohibitions are supported by subsidies for equipment such as the &quot;Happy Seeder,&quot; which allows farmers to avoid stubble burning. On transport, the Punjab government has set up 27 e-buses in Lahore, with 500 more planned for the FY25 Annual Development Plan. The World Bank believes that e-buses might reduce PM2.5 emissions by up to 88% compared to diesel cars. These new measures are a major institutional step forward, indicating a more effective, coordinated strategy for monitoring air quality across the province. According to the World Bank&#39;s 2025 Program Information Document, Punjab has long suffered from &quot;the absence of systematic air quality management capacity,&quot; which these reforms now aim to address. Awareness and social responsibilityTo involve citizens directly in the fight against smog, the EPD developed the Green Punjab App, which allows users to report unlawful burning and file environmental complaints directly with the authorities, while the EcoBot platform provides real-time air quality data and health alerts.&nbsp; The Punjab Disaster Management Authority and EPD have also launched public awareness programs encouraging locals to decrease their usage of solid fuels, report infractions, and promote public transport. The United Nations Development Programme defines empowerment as enabling people to make informed choices that shape their own communities. In Punjab&rsquo;s case, this means equipping citizens with reliable data, accountability mechanisms, and access to clean alternatives. Pakistan&#39;s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) warned that this year&rsquo;s smog should be treated as a &ldquo;public health threat,&rdquo; urging households to adopt indoor air-filtration measures as part of a layered protection strategy. The National Institute of Health has cautioned that hazardous smog spells will continue across eastern Punjab, including Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan. In its 2025 advisory, the NDMA recommended using air purifiers in frequently occupied rooms, sealing windows, avoiding non-essential travel, and wearing N95 or KN95 masks outdoors. The NDMA also suggested a low-cost alternative: natural air-purifying indoor plants, such as snake plants or spider plants, to improve indoor air quality. While not a replacement for HEPA filtration, they provide additional relief for families unable to afford high-end purifiers. The worsening smog has increased public attention on indoor air quality, particularly among parents and individuals with chronic respiratory illnesses. Government advisories continue to emphasize precautionary measures indoors and outdoors while broader, long-term efforts focus on emissions regulation, improved monitoring and seasonal preparedness. Ultimately, the province&#39;s efforts serve as a starting point rather than a solution, highlighting the need for continuous enforcement and regional collaboration to achieve lasting improvements in air quality.

Health

Punjab’s smog crisis stems from rapid urbanization, vehicle emissions, industrial activity, and stubble burning. Efforts to improve air quality and public health include clean air policies, citizen reporting apps, and electric transport initiatives.

Articles tagged with "Emissions"

At UN, Pakistan urges climate finance to counter financial risks

What’s polluting Punjab’s air?