Punjab’s smog challenge: will this year be different?

The smog season is upon us once again. As winter approaches, Lahore and other parts of Punjab are preparing for another period of deteriorating air quality. For residents, the concerns are familiar: unhealthy air, respiratory problems, restrictions on outdoor activities and disruptions to daily life. Over the years, smog has become a recurring public health crisis, with little lasting improvement in air quality.

However, there is something different this time. The Punjab government appears to be taking the issue more seriously, with greater political attention, increased funding and a more structured approach to tackling air pollution. Unlike previous years, when the response largely revolved around emergency measures during peak smog months, the government is now moving towards a year-round air-quality management framework.

At the centre of these efforts is the $300 million World Bank-supported Punjab Clean Air Program (PCAP), running from 2025 to 2030. The programme aims to reduce PM2.5 exposure by 35 percent over the next decade, focusing on transport, agriculture, industry, and air-quality management, particularly in Lahore Division.

The government is also expanding its monitoring infrastructure. According to the Punjab Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EPCCD), the province has 59 air-quality monitoring stations, with plans to expand the network to 100. The proposed Lahore Air Improvement Framework, estimated at Rs4.35 billion, aims to introduce advanced emission monitoring, pollution intelligence systems and targeted enforcement mechanisms.

Technology is becoming an important part of the strategy. The government is deploying drones, CCTV cameras and AI-based systems to monitor industrial emissions identify pollution hotspots and detect violations. More than 8,500 cameras are being used for industrial chimney surveillance, while continuous emission monitoring systems are planned to strengthen industrial compliance. AI-based forecasting is also being developed to provide advance warnings of deteriorating air quality.

There are efforts to address pollution at its source as well. The government is promoting electric public transport, supporting 120,000 electric two- and three-wheelers under PCAP and planning stronger vehicle emission testing. In agriculture, 7,273 Super Seeders have reportedly been distributed against a broader target of 10,000 to discourage crop-residue burning. Measures are also being taken to control construction dust, improve fuel-quality testing and strengthen industrial enforcement.

These initiatives represent a welcome shift in direction. For years, Punjab’s smog response was criticised for being reactive, relying on temporary restrictions and emergency interventions. The growing focus on monitoring, regulation and cleaner technologies suggests that the government is beginning to recognise air pollution as a structural problem requiring sustained attention.

However, the real challenge lies in translating these plans into cleaner air. Much of the government’s current approach remains heavily focused on monitoring pollution rather than reducing it. Sensors, drones, AI systems and surveillance cameras can identify polluters, but they cannot eliminate emissions on their own. The plan also lacks sufficiently clear, publicly measurable annual targets for reducing emissions from major sources such as transport, industry and agriculture. Similarly, questions remain about enforcement capacity, cleaner industrial fuels, compliance costs and coordination among departments. Projects such as smog towers and large-scale tree planting may have some local environmental benefits, but their contribution to reducing citywide PM2.5 is likely to be limited.

International experience offers useful lessons. Beijing achieved substantial improvements in air quality by tightening industrial emission standards, reducing coal consumption and controlling vehicle pollution. London introduced strict restrictions on high-emitting vehicles, while Seoul focused on replacing older diesel vehicles and strengthening emission controls. These examples suggest that lasting improvements come from reducing pollution at its source, supported by consistent enforcement, rather than relying primarily on monitoring technology.Thailand is also stepping up efforts to tackle smog through stricter controls on crop burning, tougher vehicle emission standards and industrial monitoring. Bangkok has reported a 15 percent reduction in average PM2.5 levels during the 2025–26 smog season compared with the previous season, although air pollution remains a serious challenge.

Punjab’s latest efforts related to attention, funding and institutional capacity are encouraging, but implementation and accountability will determine whether they make a meaningful difference.

Ultimately, the measure of success will not be the number of monitoring stations installed, cameras deployed or projects announced. It will be whether Punjab’s residents can breathe cleaner air, not just during one smog season, but throughout the year.