Environmentalist Ali Tauqeer Sheikh has outlined two things to control smog, which has engulfed many cities in Punjab, prompting the provincial government to shut down schools and factories.
“Firstly, invest in public transportation and Pakistan has much money for that,” he said while appearing on Dus via video link which was aired on Aaj News on Friday.
He explained that a 10 to 15 per cent tax from the fuel taxes can be used to improve public transport. It can be called a surcharge of climate or carbon tax.
“If we only repurpose 15% for public transportation, it becomes $2 billion annually. If the government invests this amount, 60% to 70% of our problem will be solved with our domestic resources. And, I am quite certain that you can have $10 billion leverage with international and private sector financing.”
Secondly, he called for not giving licences for new rickshaws. He added that the State Bank of Pakistan should make a policy to provide EV rickshaws at subsidised rates in return for fuel-run rickshaws.
“There will not be any problem if the government gives Rs15 to Rs20 billion amount of subsidy to phase out fuel-run rickshaws so that the congestion in inner cities is low.”
He added: “There are three companies who are providing two and three-wheelers to the world. If Pakistan buys their whole production line or does a joint venture with them so in eight to 10 years, we can transform our motorbikes, two-wheelers, and pickup trucks. If we do this then our air quality will improve.”
Sheikh clarified that the country would achieve barely half of the air quality target at the present level by 2050 if all suggestions are implemented.
“We will have to make changes in agriculture, production lines, and bring industry reforms.”
The environmentalist lamented that clean air policy was not being implemented in the country despite repeated studies from researchers and the World Bank
He added that the environmental situation was a result of old decisions. “We think that this matter will last for two to three months and the situation will improve after we pray for rain.”
Sheikh clarified that it was a 12-month problem, adding that many areas of Pakistan, including Lahore, for the past 15 to 20 years have been on the list of the world’s most polluted cities.
He blamed the policy of promoting private vehicles and not creating spaces for pedestrians, damaging green belts to make wide roads for air pollution. He lamented that public transportation was not developed to make cities movable.
When asked, Sheikh said: “Yes this disaster is by choice and our policymakers never analysed it. We did not even have a solution that the city is for people’s walking and there are poor people who want to come by walk and cycle.”
He also criticised the monopoly of a few companies that are not bringing innovation and selling old fuel-run vehicles.
In response to a question, he said the government should be competent to make decisions. “We need to pause and think as we are making our lives very expensive to live.”
