ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman said Cabinet had approved much needed ‘National Clean Air Policy’, proposed by Ministry of Climate Change. In series of tweets, thanked all Cabinet members for unanimously approving policy.

Sherry Rehman said, “This policy was need of hour which has been formulated in consultation and partnership with all stakeholders. It aims to reduce air pollution in Pakistan, improve air quality, reduce annual deaths, improve citizens’ health, increase economic activity and ensure food security.”

She said Pakistan was third most polluted country in world in terms of air pollution in 2021, while Lahore and Karachi were most polluted cities in Air Quality Index 2022-23.

“Air pollution has become serious environmental and health problem. In 2019, 235,000 people died due to air pollution in Pakistan.” She noted that air pollution had shortened average life expectancy in Pakistan by 2.7 years.

According to World Bank, she said, air pollution in 2013 caused an economic loss of $ 47.8 billion in Pakistan, which was 5.88 percent of the gross domestic product. “We needed comprehensive policy to reduce these losses. All losses can be mitigated by technical and administrative measures of this policy,” Sherry said.

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 10 2023

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