Senate committee summons petroleum, energy sectors' officials.

ISLAMABAD -- The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights has summoned officials from petroleum and energy sectors in its meeting on Monday to explain reasons for failing to improve quality of fuel during the last two decades.

In the last meeting, the committee Chairman PPP Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar observed that oil refineries in Pakistan enjoying concessions in prices from government were expected to use the money to upgrade their plants.

Environmentalists, invited to the meeting, said that poor air quality in the country was due to substandard petrol, diesel and furnace oils.

They argued that vehicular emissions caused 44pc air pollution in Punjab and cities like Lahore, Gujranwala and Sheikhupura, to mention some, are the worst hit.

'Residents who breathe air in Lahore should subtract 60 months from their life span,' advocate and environmentalist Rafay Alam told the last meeting of the committee.

Members acknowledged air pollution as a human rights concern that caused public health crisis.

Members and environmentalists said petroleum and energy sectors have failed to improve the quality of fuel in the last two decades, which was the leading cause of deteriorated air people breathe.

Speakers also noted that there was no fuel standards linked to quality of air.

Environmentalists maintained that although Pakistan has the lowest carbon footprints, it is amongst countries that release some of the highest amounts of aerosol, which cause...