A conference on tackling the problem of air pollution will soon begin at the Lahore Exhibition Center as part of DawnMedia’s ‘Breathe Pakistan’ initiative.
Air pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental and public health crises facing Pakistan, and Lahore in particular is no stranger to this phenomenon.
The city, once famous for its gardens, is now among the most polluted in the world, with PM2.5 levels far exceeding the safety limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Other major cities (including Karachi, Faisalabad and Peshawar) face similar challenges, driven by industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, stubble burning and poor enforcement of environmental regulations.
The conference is organized in collaboration with the United Nations and the Government of Punjab. Pakistan Business Council will be a knowledge partner, while Ipsos, Climate Forward Pakistan and Carbon Track will be research partners.
The conference will highlight viable solutions, foster high-level dialogue and drive collective action to achieve cleaner air in Pakistan. Sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including policy and governance frameworks, clean air financing, smog and industrial liability, judicial activism, public health impacts, national air quality standards, and regional cooperation on transboundary pollution.
Among the prominent speakers expected to speak at today’s debate are Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Punjab Chief Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, federal and provincial ministers, Supreme Court Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Ayesha Malik, and Lahore High Court Judge, Jawad Hassan.
Senior United Nations officials, global health experts, economists and corporate leaders will also weigh in on this pressing issue.
The initiative is also supported by major business stakeholders and several other public and private organisations, including English Biscuit Manufacturers, Bank of Punjab, Punjab Department of Environment Protection and Climate Change, OMODA & JAECOO-Nishat Group and NDMRF, among others, “reflecting a strong and growing alliance across sectors to address the urgent challenges posed by sharp rise in air pollution in Pakistan,” said DawnMedia.
Find out more about today’s conference agenda here.
Wondering what your carbon footprint is? Calculate here.
9:35 am — Guests sit inside the venue.
The guests are seated inside the Exhibition Center when the conference is about to begin.
More to follow
