Pakistan - Second National Group Meeting: The Parliamentary Role in Meeting the Clean Air Challenge

(l-r): Shazia Rafi, Hon. Riaz Fatyana, MNA, Convener, SDGs Taskforce, Hon. Asad Qaisar, Speaker, National Assembly, Hon. Naveed Qamar, MNA, Board member, AirQualityAsia, Hon. Senator Sherry Rehman, Chair, Senate Climate Caucus

Islamabad, Pakistan – 26-27 March 2019

Inaugural Speaker: Hon. Asad Qaiser, Speaker of National Assembly,
Keynote Speaker: Hon. Malik Amin Aslam - Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change

AirQualityAsia organized a seminar on air quality at Parliament on 26th, 27th, March 2019 with MNAs and Senators from 6 committees, including the Speaker of the National Assembly and Prime Minister’s Advisor on Climate Change who joined the session, hosted by Hon. Naveed Qamar, MNA, Board member of AirQualityAsia. Panels included critical issues pertaining to Health Impact of Air Pollution, Economic Cost of Air Pollution, Building Sustainable Transport Systems, State of Renewable Energy Sector in Pakistan and Clean Air Models from China, Mexico, New York and California.

Naveed Qamar began proceedings while noting the large number of participants at the session. He said it was evidence of the importance of air quality as a public issue and of the importance the House gave air pollution. Convener of AirQualityAsia, Shazia Rafi spoke about the work of AirQualityAsia on policy improvements on air pollution in Pakistan and at a regional level.

Speaker National Assembly Hon. Asad Qaisar said Pakistan is committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. However, keeping in view the persistent air pollution issues throughout Pakistan, he said perhaps 2030 was too far away and immediate steps should be taken to address air quality challenges.

Abid Omar, who leads the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative, revealed that both Government and citizen-activist data show that Pakistani cities suffer from dangerous levels of air pollution. Dr. Junaid Rashid and Dr. Shazia Manzur of Children’s Hospital, Lahore presented the findings of their research on air quality on child health. The report from Children’s Hospital underscored that poor air quality is demonstrably harmful to pregnant women and children. Dr. Shazli Manzoor, lung cancer specialist presented the clear links of rising air pollution with lung cancer rates even in young, non-smokers.

Other presenters were Senator Sherry Rehman, Chair of the Senate Climate Caucus (called for greater data sharing on air quality between the provinces) and MNA Riaz Fatyana, Convener of the National Assembly Sustainable Development Goals Taskforce.

Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Hon. Malik Amin Aslam said that air quality was not only a health issue, but was adversely affecting wheat crop yields throughout Punjab and set out the various initiatives taken by the Ministry to deal with challenge of air quality. He also announced a World Bank programme to strengthen the Environment and Climate Change work of the federal and provincial governments.

Day 1 of the meeting ended with participants calling for both the Federal and Provincial Governments to play their role to curb air pollution. They underscored the need for better coordination and budgeting between federal and provinces so that respective responsibilities. Others present included Dr. Ali Tauqeer Shiekh, CEO of LEAD Pakistan.