While there is a history of severe air pollution in both Beijing and the major cities of Pakistan, the causes and circumstances are different. Historically, Beijing’s pollution was caused by a thriving industrial base, significant traffic expansion, and considerable coal use, particularly for winter heating. As per the Sustainable Mobility Report, in 2013, severe haze episodes were frequent, and Beijing’s average PM₂.₅ was approximately 101 μg/m³. In 2013, the Chinese government acknowledged smog as a national emergency and publicly launched an “Air Pollution Prevention Action Plan” (the “war on pollution”).

A review by Air Pollution Control mentions that the subsequent policies established specific reduction goals and addressed all areas of pollution (e.g., 60 μg/m³ annual PM₂.₅ by 2017). Furthermore, in under 20 years, Beijing’s SO₂ concentration dropped from over 90% to less than 10 μg/m³ by 2017. On the other hand, as economic activity and car ownership have increased, Pakistan’s urban pollution has increased as well. These days, Karachi and Lahore are two of the most polluted cities in the world.

The Air Quality Life Index ranks Pakistan as the “fourth most polluted” nation in the world, with a national average PM₂.₅ that is significantly higher than the WHO recommendation. Approximately 98% of Pakistanis live above the national average (15 μg/m³). Because of agricultural residue burning and sluggish weather, pollution and PM₂.₅ levels in Lahore frequently increase during the winter. In Karachi, pollutants are trapped by a combination of terrain and vehicular and industrial emissions.

Pakistan is currently responding with a fragmented policy. According to the World Bank, the government has changed fuel quality to Euro-V standards, released a National Electric Vehicle Policy, and started Punjab’s Clean Air Program, which aims to reduce PM₂ by about 35% over a ten-year period. In Lahore, the government has started using anti-smog guns, but with minimal effectiveness. Nevertheless, there is lax enforcement of waste management, industrial emissions limitations, and vehicle inspections. Moreover, there is a dire need to achieve long-term, effective outcomes in workers’ compensation.

To sum up, Pakistan’s efforts to date lack this integration and scale, while Beijing’s clean-air program was methodical and resource-intensive. After analyzing Beijing’s tactics and results, this essay looks at how comparable methods may be modified for Pakistan’s institutional and economic environment.

According to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing, vigorously reduced pollution from industry. Nearly 2,000 polluting businesses were shut down or moved as part of the 2013–2017 Clean Air Action Plan, greatly exceeding the 1,200 target. These manufacturers mostly produced chemicals, steel, cement, and other heavy pollutants. Moreover, it also mentions that six of the eight cement facilities were shut down by the city, reducing its capacity to 3.1 million tons.

Between 2016 and 2018, more than 10,000 businesses that were operating unlawfully were closed or changed. Additionally, thousands of factories were relocated from metropolitan areas by local authorities (for instance, 1,173 enterprises are planned to relocate to Daxing District). Strict emissions upgrades for the remaining businesses were implemented in conjunction with these closures. For example, brick kilns across the country were mandated to implement zigzag (high-efficiency) designs or face closures during the winter.

As a result, industrial emissions drastically decreased. Through subsidies that cover two-thirds of conversion expenses and fuel switching to natural gas or electricity, the portion of Beijing’s PM₂.₅ that comes from local coal combustion (households and small boilers) has been drastically reduced. The majority of rural and urban families were........

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