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The World Bank has approved a $300 million concessional loan to help Pakistan’s Punjab province address air pollution and improve air quality, according to state-run media reports this week.
The loan, granted under the International Development Association (IDA), will support the Punjab Clean Air Program (PCAP), Radio Pakistan reported on Saturday.
The program aims to enhance air quality management and tackle pollution throughout the province. It will assist Punjab in executing its Smog Mitigation Action Plan (SMAP), which includes a range of measures targeting key sectors such as transportation, agriculture, industry, energy, and municipal services.
Lahore, the capital of Punjab, is frequently ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world during the winter months from November to February.
Experts attribute the pollution to emissions from factories and traffic, with the situation worsening in winter due to the burning of crop stubble by farmers and the stagnant, cooler air that traps harmful pollutants.
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