A recent study has revealed that crop residue burning in the agricultural sector isn’t the primary contributor to smog and air pollution in Pakistan.
There are other bigger factors which cause air pollution other than the practice of crop-burning by farmers.
The findings are part of a study, which was conducted to analyze the causes of smog and the agricultural sectors’ part in it. It was done by United Nation’s Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) under its project Remote Sensing for Spatio-Temporal Mapping of Smog (R-SMOG).
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The report claims to be the first evidence of its kind based on geospatial research. The study’s aim is to assist government institutions in eradicating smog.
Findings of the study reveal that the agriculture sector was only third in the list, with the transport sector topping the list by causing 42% of air pollution.
This is followed by 25% from the industrial sector and 20% from the agriculture sector. The FAO global technical experts reviewed the research findings with the help of information, methods, and tools validated by a wide array of Pakistani experts and institutions.
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FAO global technical experts also reviewed the findings of the study.
Punjab Agricultural Minister, Malik Nauman, who was the chief guest in the launching ceremony, said the Punjab government is already taking measures to mitigate the smog menace.
He said the PTI-led government was committed to providing a hygienic environment to the public and that’s why Prime Minister Imran Khan started the tree plantation campaign.