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HomeStockholm Environment InstituteNews & Events2023“The air is killing us” – Chris Malley contributed to Pakistan’s Clean Air Policy

“The air is killing us" – Chris Malley contributed to Pakistan’s Clean Air Policy

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Posted on Monday 27 March 2023

In the op-ed "The air is killing us. We know what we must do but will we?" Syeda Hadika Jamshaid and Chris Malley, SEI Research Fellow in York, explain why action on air pollution is critical
Smoke billows from a chimney behind a tree-covered outcrop.
Factory smoke in Punjab. Photo: Amir Mukhtar / Getty Images

In an op-ed published in Pakistan's largest newspaper, DAWN, Chris Malley and Syeda Hadika Jamshaid announced that that Pakistan's first Clear Air Policy has been approved by the Cabinet. 

This is a timely intervention: Lahore and Karachi, two of Pakistan's largest cities, rank among the top 10 cities for the world's poorest air quality. In February alone, 19 people, including children, lost their lives in Karachi's Keamari area due to respiratory failure. Despite flawed investigations, experts insist that the deaths are linked to toxic emissions and poor air quality. 

Air pollution, a serious risk to public health, and climate change are twinned global issues. The sources of air pollutants and climate-warming gases are often the same. This link presents an opportunity to deal with these pressing challenges simultaneously. Compelled by this evidence, the federal cabinet on Thursday approved Pakistan's first National Clear Air Policy, as recommended by the Ministry of Climate Change.