Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter |
The exceeding air pollution in Pakistan is severely affecting the life of at least 238 million population may shorten life expectancy by seven years in the most polluted areas of the country like Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Peshawar, according to the report published by the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute (EPIC) in its latest Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) on Tuesday.
The particulate pollution becomes the second greatest threat to human health (behind cardiovascular diseases) in Pakistan shortening the life expectancy of 3.9 years on average.
On the other hand, child & maternal malnutrition, and maternal & neonatal disorders reduce average life expectancy by 2.7 years according to the AQLI report.
As per AQLI, the average particulate pollution has increased over time by 49.9%, reducing life expectancy by 1.5 years in Pakistan from 1998 to 2021.
AQLI notified that the most polluted areas like the capital Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that persevere 65.5 million population or 69.5% of Pakistan’s population are on course to lose between 3.7 to 4.6 years of life expectancy on average relative to the WHO guideline and between 2.7 to 3.6 years relative to the national
standard if the current pollution levels continually persist.
But, if Pakistan reduce the particulate pollution to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline, the average residents in the country could gain 3.9 years of life expectancy. 1) Islamabad, the capital will gain 4.5, 2) Karachi, Pakistan’s most popular city will gain 2.7, 3) Lahore, the second most populus city will gain 7.5years of life expectancy.
The AQLI is a pollution index developed by the university of Chicago’s distinguished professor named Milton Friedman which translates particulate air pollution, analyzed its impact on life expectancy and illustrates how air pollution policies can increase life expectancy when they meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guideline for what is considered a safe level of exposure, existing national air quality standards, or user-defined air quality levels.
