The smog crisis in Pakistan is more alarming than ever, affecting people, their wellbeing and the social ecosystem at large. According to the 2023 World Air Quality Report published by IQAir, Pakistan ranks second among the most polluted countries in the world. As winter approaches this year, the country is once again engulfed in a thick blanket of toxic air, with Lahore suffering the most from air pollution among many other cities.
The Guardian reports that Lahore’s air quality has “dropped to the worst levels on Earth, with pollution levels up to 15 times higher than is deemed healthy.” Covering this serious issue, BBC also quoted Abid Omar, the founder of Pakistan’s Air Quality Initiative, to point out that the air quality index levels in “some locations in Lahore have exceeded 1,000.”
Combating the smog crisis is of utmost importance as WHO warns that “people living in low and middle-income countries disproportionately experience the burden of outdoor air pollution with 89% (of the 4.2 million premature deaths) occurring in these areas.”
Over the years, Pakistan has implemented various measures during the peak smog season, ranging from October to January, to prioritize the health of the citizens. To improve the air quality of Lahore, the government conducted artificial rain in 2023 through cloud seeding and plans to induce it again this year. In addition to this, the smog mitigation policies for offices have included closure of workplaces on certain days, readjustment of timings, recommended two-day 'work from home and 50% on-site workforce policy for private businesses.
However, experts believe that tackling the unbearable smog requires a strict implementation of these policies not just in winter but all throughout the year. “The implementation of the smog plan has been delayed, which means that the expected results may not be achieved this year,” stated Naseem Rehman, Former Director of the Environmental Protection Agency.
As the country is expected to suffer from a prolonged environmental crisis, it is imperative to observe the necessary policies year-round, which also entails taking hybrid models of working into account properly.
Considering this, coworking spaces are revolutionizing the way we work. As hybrid models of work become the new norm during these environmentally challenged times, co-working spaces like Daftarkhwan offer flexible office spaces and timings, enabling businesses to stay ahead of the curve with an evolved working strategy. With a network of spaces spread across strategic and centralized locations of the city, they play a huge part in minimizing the commute distance. The presence of multiple locations also provides a chance to work closer to home when required, in turn reducing vehicular emissions.
Moreover, the very disposition of co-working spaces promotes environmental sustainability with its arrangement of sharing resources among businesses and individuals, resultantly, reducing the average energy consumption. Through shared office equipment, community kitchens and meeting rooms, the individual purchase of relevant materials gets significantly decreased. That’s how both businesses and the planet end up benefitting from such an infrastructure.
All in all, the current climate adversity brings with it an opportunity for businesses to reimagine their approach to operations, adopting sustainable practices that prioritize the people as well as the planet.
Comments