ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – APP – 10th Jun, 2019 ) :Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Monday said the world data gave 9 out of 10 people on earth were exposed to toxic air where 95 per cent of children around the globe were breathing polluted air.

The adviser made these remarks while speaking at the seminar organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Air Pollution to mark World Environment Day here.

In 2050, he said 2/3 of the world population would be living in urban cities where 75 per cent of air pollution had been caused by big cities.

Amin said Beijing, in the recent past, had undergone extreme ambient quality deterioration and recovered swiftly with the same pace. At certain instances it, had worst air quality, not even permissible to inhale. London city was another example which had bore killer fogs in the last decades but now had retained healthy and ideal air quality.

The adviser said that prior to the incumbent government there was no air quality monitoring being carried out at the government level. The epicenter for air pollution was Lahore which consecutively faced five deadly smog seasons.

He said after taking the charge, I made five stationary and five mobile air quality stations functional which were out of order.

The UN’s food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report analyzing the causes of smog in Punjab claimed vehicular emissions contributing 40 per cent to the total smog phenomenon prevailing across the province, he said.

At present, Amin said the country was moving in the right direction as we had a very strong political support at the apex level as Prime Minister Imran Khan was keenly focusing on environment, even in his election campaigns.

He said crop residual burning across the border was another factor causing smog along with brick kilns.

"We have managed to convert 300 out of the total 8000 on advance zigzag technology and shut down only those which have failed to comply.

We have also developed Electric car policy to phase out cars running on gasoline and diesel as it will also help in cutting down the oil import bill and 1/3 of consumer expenses," he added.

SDPI, Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri said the country’s agriculture sector had not performed well this year because of unpredictability due to climate change causing random environmental and seasonal patterns where air pollution was one of the main reasons," he added.

He said that it would also affect the GDP as agriculture sector had to play its role in improving it.

Guest of honour, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy Lijian Zhao said that fighting air pollution was the responsibility of the government where the Chinese government was making all out efforts in that regard and was taking revolutionary steps for enhancing ambient air quality.

SDPI Environmentalist Maryam Shabbir highlighted the air pollution levels across the world, particularly in the country.

Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Dean Dr Uzaira Rafique said that the academia had the responsibility to create awareness and education making behavioural change whereas it had become imperative to sensitize the youth to take lead role in environmental conservation awareness and preservation measures.

SDPI, China Study Center Head Dr Hina Aslam presented the Chinese perspective of air pollution mitigation endeavours.

SDPI also awarded prizes to the winners of its competition held in order to create awareness on climate change.

Uzma Jabeen of FJWU won the first prize. She presented the idea of renewable energy and green economy solutions to curb the hazardous impacts of environmental degradation.

While Muhammad Waseem from Abdul Wali Khan University remained runner up whereas the shortlisted candidates were given appreciation certificates.

 

Source: https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/9-out-of-10-people-on-earth-exposed-to-toxic-641675.html