ISLAMABAD, Apr 14 (APP):Policy experts, environmentalists, development practitioners and researchers on Tuesday proposed a series of actionable policy recommendations to address crop residue burning and black carbon emissions in Punjab.
They have stressed the need for stronger coordination among institutions, farmer-focused incentives, improved data systems and regional cooperation to reduce air pollution.
Speaking at a consultation, held at SDPI conference Hall, titled “From Smog to Solutions: Addressing Crop Residue Burning and Black Carbon Emission in Punjab,” Malik Amin Aslam, environmentalist and former Minister of State for Climate Change, said Pakistan already possesses sufficient research identifying pollution sources and solutions but lacks implementation on the ground, said a press release.
He urged stronger enforcement of clean-air policies and learning from successful regional examples such as Beijing and Delhi, where coordinated interventions helped reduce smog levels significantly.
Zainab Naeem, Lead Ecological Sustainability and Circular Economy at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), highlighted the need to promote circular economy solutions by linking farmers with small and medium enterprises that can utilize crop residues instead of burning them.
She emphasized that agricultural burning contributes significantly to particulate pollution and called for market-based mechanisms to enable farmers to sell residues as a resource rather than treating them as waste.
Mohsin Rose, Agriculture Economist at the World Bank Pakistan, stressed the importance of integrated cross-sectoral coordination and digital data-sharing mechanisms between public institutions and private stakeholders to better manage air quality challenges. He noted that effective mitigation requires short-, medium- and long-term strategies backed by research-driven planning.
Dr. Ambreen Latif, Deputy Secretary Climate Change at the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EPCCD) Punjab, highlighted institutional efforts including the approval of provincial climate plans and the launch of data dashboards to enhance transparency and coordination among departments. She also underscored the importance of biomass-based energy initiatives to reduce crop burning and promote environmentally friendly alternatives.
Abid Omar, Founder of the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative, recommended expanding real-time air-quality monitoring networks by integrating satellite, remote sensing and ground-based data systems to support early warning mechanisms and localized policy responses.
He said improved forecasting would allow authorities to adopt targeted interventions such as selective school closures and district-specific mitigation strategies rather than blanket measures.
Dr. Umar Maqsood, Agriculture Specialist (Crops) at FAO Pakistan, emphasized collaboration with farmers through sustainable agriculture initiatives and field-level demonstration projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote climate-smart practices.
The experts also stressed the need for standardized national data reporting systems, development of crop suitability maps, and improved access to machinery for small farmers through government-supported service delivery mechanisms.
They also recommended strengthening private-sector engagement, promoting regional cooperation on clean air diplomacy, and aligning national climate commitments with air-pollution mitigation strategies, including the integration of black carbon emissions into future climate planning frameworks.
The speakers agreed that coordinated institutional action, farmer incentives and integrated monitoring systems were essential to addressing the smog crisis and ensuring sustainable environmental management across Pakistan.
© 2026 SDPI. All Rights Reserved Design & Developed by NKMIS WEB Unit
