LAHORE: The Punjab cabinet has approved the Punjab Clean Air Programme (PCAP) with a World Bank’s proposed $300 million financing on favourable terms to check severe air pollution as certain urban areas are consistently experiencing hazardous conditions.

Designating the P&D Board as coordination and monitoring agency for the PCAP, the cabinet allowed the board to approach the World Bank through the ministry of economic affairs for obtaining the concessional financing of $300m for the programme.

The cabinet also asked the board to immediately establish an interim Coordination and Monitoring Unit (CMU) by using existing resources.

According to the documents obtained from the CM secretariat, the Punjab government has plans to use the concessional financing for procurement and operations of electric buses, two and three-wheelers, power infrastructure upgrade, establishment of depots, road safety, institutional strengthening and strengthening of Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (VICS) regime.

Punjab to install charging stations, subsidise electric two and three-wheelers

The PCAP will also include interventions of agriculture, industries and environment departments.

At present, the Air Quality Index (AQI) data indicates that many cities have AQI values exceeding 500 with Lahore frequently surpassing 1,000 points.

Other cities such as Faisalabad, Multan and Gujranwala are also grappling with similar air quality issues.

The 2021 “Air Pollution Inventory of Punjab” by the Urban Unit and SUPARCO found that transport contributes 39.38 per cent to Punjab’s overall pollution.

In Lahore, the 2022 “Emission Inventory” report by the Urban Unit states that transport accounts for 83.15pc of emissions, followed by industries at 9.07pc and agriculture (mainly crop residue burning) at 3.9pc.

As the Punjab government is looking for $300m concessional financing, the P&D Board has chalked out a proposed financial allocation in different heads including physical asset creation.

The proposed financial allocation plan presented before the cabinet suggests allocation of $140m for induction of e-buses for smog mitigation in Lahore division by the transport and mass transit department.

The cabinet was also informed that $90m allocation has been proposed for enhancing adoption of electric two and three-wheelers in Lahore division through provision of subsidy on purchase of electric wheelers besides promoting research and development in converting the existing internal combustion engine (ICE) two and three-wheelers to hybrid vehicles with electric batteries while conforming to safety parameters.

The transport and mass transit department will install charging stations for e-vehicles at various locations in the city.

The board has also allocated $15m to commission a study, design a business model and later implement a plan, with the permission of the government, for buy-back of old vehicles or taking them off the road within Lahore city.

As a part of the programme, the environment protection and climate change department has plans for installation of air quality monitoring stations, fuel quality checking, air quality management and public engagement through awareness messages.

The agriculture department is expected to purchase Super/Pak seeders for Lahore, Gujranwala and Faisalabad divisions. It will give incentives to the farmers by sharing the rental cost of rich harvesters.

As a part of the plan, the Punjab Small Industries Corporation will establish a Rs3 billion revolving fund to provide loaning facilities to 450 industrial units for purchase, installation and commissioning of solar power generation systems.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2024