In a significant move to address urban air pollution, Bank Alfalah partnered with the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) and Karachi Urban Lab (KUL) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) to release the “Karachi Emissions Inventory – A Scientific Foundation for a Clean Air City” report on World Environment Day. This milestone report provides Karachi’s most comprehensive and evidence-based assessment of air pollution sources, underpinned by data from 13 newly installed air quality monitors funded by Bank Alfalah.
Strategically placed across diverse and high-density zones including Saddar, Korangi, Gadap, North Nazimabad, and Clifton, the monitors track critical pollutants such as PM2.5, sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), and carbon dioxide (CO₂). These pollutants are major contributors to health risks and reduced quality of life in the metropolis. The emissions inventory employs both international best practices and localized data, shedding light on the root causes behind Karachi’s persistent air quality challenges.
The report reveals Karachi emitted nearly 395 kilotons of pollutants, with industrial activities contributing almost half of the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions, while the transport sector accounts for a third. Power generation, heavily dependent on high-sulfur fuels, is responsible for 30 percent of sulfur dioxide emissions. Residential emissions are comparatively low, owing to Karachi’s warmer climate. Additionally, Karachi’s coastal location offers a slight natural advantage, as sea breezes help disperse pollutants; however, background pollution levels remain high due to marine salts and desert dust.
The launch event held at IBA was followed by a policy dialogue that emphasized the need for better inter-agency coordination, enhanced pollution monitoring systems, timely public health alerts, and the integration of green financing strategies to transition Karachi toward sustainability. Abid Qamar, founder of PAQI, highlighted that Karachi’s air pollution crisis is not inevitable but requires focused, evidence-based interventions in industrial regulations and transport policies, with achievable results within five years.
Bank Alfalah, represented by Madiha Javed Qureshi, Head of Corporate Communication and CSR, expressed pride in supporting this scientific foundation, emphasizing the bank’s role in promoting environmental health through technology and finance. The bank’s green financing portfolio has grown to PKR 26.6 billion, showcasing its commitment to backing cleaner technologies and sustainable business practices.
As part of its sustainability efforts, Bank Alfalah recently pledged USD 10 million to support climate resilience and environmental wellbeing, spearheaded by its Chairman Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan and the board. The bank also launched the #GreenWayForward initiative in collaboration with WWF-Pakistan, aiming to plant 35,000 mangroves along Pakistan’s coastline over 2023 and 2024. This effort forms part of a broader commitment to planting 100,000 trees by 2030.
Further initiatives include powering 155 ATMs with solar panels to reduce carbon emissions, converting the Sheikh Bhirko branch into a 30 kW solar hybrid green branch, and improving waste management and water efficiency through a partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). These steps underscore Bank Alfalah’s leadership in integrating green finance and clean energy solutions into Pakistan’s banking sector.
The Karachi Emissions Inventory report provides policymakers, urban planners, and civil society with a vital, data-driven starting point to collectively pursue cleaner air and a healthier urban environment for Pakistan’s largest city.