World Bank approves $300m loan to improve air quality in Punjab

Islamabad: The World Bank has approved a $300 million (Rs84 billion) loan for the Punjab government to improve air quality.

The funds will be used to replace fossil fuel-powered buses and trucks and reduce straw burning on farms, helping to reduce smog in both Indian and Pakistani cities.

The loan was approved under the Punjab Clean Air Programme (PCAP) to enhance air quality management and fight air pollution.

The program will support Punjab's Smog Mitigation Action Plan (SMAP), which focuses on tackling smog and pollution through a range of initiatives aimed at improving air quality and public health. These efforts will target key areas like transport, agriculture, industry, energy, and municipal services, according to a statement from the World Bank.