China's experience offers important lessons for Pakistan, where air pollution has become a serious public health challenge, particularly in Lahore and other major urban centres.

Every winter, smog disrupts daily life, affects schools and businesses, and exposes millions to harmful pollution levels.

According to a report carried by Gwadar Pro, in one of the world's most populous capitals, air pollution had become part of everyday life, with AQI readings frequently exceeding 300 during severe pollution episodes.

Breathing clean air was a growing concern for residents, as homes and schools increasingly relied on air purifiers and face masks became a familiar sight on the streets.

At the time, people regularly adjusted their daily routines according to pollution levels.

Air purifiers were almost a necessity in homes and schools, while wearing face masks outdoors was common. Concerns about children's health and prolonged exposure to polluted air were part of everyday conversations.

Today, Beijing's improved air quality offers an important example of what sustained environmental action can achieve.

The transformation did not happen overnight. It followed years of government intervention, stricter environmental regulations and investment in cleaner energy, industrial technologies and urban transport.

Beijing's transformation demonstrates that even a densely populated megacity can improve its air quality through sustained policies and effective implementation.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Beijing reduced its average PM2.5 concentration by approximately 35 percent between 2013 and 2017, while the wider Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region recorded a 25 percent reduction.

During the same period, Beijing cut annual emissions of sulphur dioxide by 83 percent, nitrogen oxides by 43 percent, particulate matter by 55 percent and volatile organic compounds by 42 percent.

These improvements followed measures targeting coal consumption, industrial emissions, vehicle pollution and construction dust.

China tightened industrial and vehicle emission standards, phased out outdated facilities, strengthened environmental monitoring and replaced coal-fired heating systems with cleaner energy.

It also expanded public transport, promoted electric vehicles and increased investment in renewable energy, supported by stronger enforcement and accountability.

Importantly, the clean-air campaign extended beyond Beijing. Recognising that pollution from neighbouring industrial cities also affected the capital, China adopted a regional approach covering Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei and surrounding areas. Similar programmes were introduced in the Yangtze River Delta and Fenwei Plain to address industrial emissions, coal consumption, vehicle pollution and other major sources.

In 2018, China's State Council introduced the Three-Year Action Plan for Winning the Blue Sky Defense Battle, setting pollution-reduction targets and prioritising these regions.

The plan called for changes to industrial, energy, transport and land-use structures, alongside stronger environmental monitoring and enforcement.

A major intervention involved replacing coal-fired household heating with cleaner alternatives, particularly in northern China, where coal use contributed to winter pollution.

According to China's Foreign Ministry, approximately 25 million rural households in Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, surrounding areas and the Fenwei Plain had shifted from coal to natural gas or electricity by the end of 2020.

China also upgraded coal-fired power plants and steel facilities to reduce emissions. By 2020, power plants with a combined capacity of around 950 million kilowatts had completed or were undergoing ultra-low-emission upgrades.

Steel production capacity of approximately 620 million tonnes had also completed or entered similar transformations.

Regional coordination was central to these efforts. Authorities in neighbouring provinces strengthened pollution monitoring, shared information and coordinated responses to severe pollution episodes, recognising that air pollution crosses administrative boundaries and requires joint action.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China