Islamabad: Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change have criticized local oil refineries and regulatory bodies for continuing to supply substandard fuel, calling it a major contributor to Pakistan’s worsening air pollution crisis.
During a recent committee meeting, lawmakers expressed frustration with the Ministry of Petroleum and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) for failing to enforce cleaner fuel standards—despite repeated commitments spanning decades.
Diesel Lagging, Refineries Avoid Upgrades
Committee Chairperson Munaza Hassan highlighted that while 70% of Pakistan’s petrol is already imported and meets Euro-5 standards, most locally refined fuel remains below this benchmark. Only Pak Arab Refinery Company (PARCO) currently produces Euro-5 compliant fuel. The situation is more dire with diesel: only 40% meets Euro-5 standards, while the rest remains noncompliant, fueling emissions in both the transport and industrial sectors.
What is Euro 5 Standard?
Euro 5 fuel is low-sulfur (under 10 ppm) fuel that enables cleaner combustion and more efficient catalytic converters, reducing harmful emissions like NOx, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter.
Officials admitted that refineries have received subsidies without installing desulfurization units or modernizing their facilities.
When the Ministry of Petroleum gave refineries a six-month window to commit to a compliance timeline, none responded. OGRA, meanwhile, came under fire for what lawmakers called “weak oversight” and regulatory inaction.
Smog & Hazardous Air
At the National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change meeting, lawmakers tied Pakistan’s worsening smog directly to poor-quality fuels. High sulfur and aromatics in substandard petrol/diesel boost SO₂, NOₓ, and PM2.5—driving hazardous air, ER visits, and low winter visibility across big cities. The committee urged full Euro-5 enforcement, updated NEQS, and E10 blending to cut emissions now.
Push for Biofuels and Emission Standards
In a bid to explore cleaner alternatives, the committee discussed ethanol blending and biofuels. Officials proposed introducing a 10% ethanol blend in petrol, highlighting the irony that Pakistan exports ethanol yet does not use it domestically to reduce emissions.
Experts also urged the government to revise the outdated National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) for vehicles, unchanged since 2009. They recommended aligning local standards with Euro-4 or higher to curb vehicular emissions.
What’s Next?
The committee has summoned representatives from OGRA and local refineries to explain their lack of progress at the next session. Members concluded that urgent reforms in fuel quality and vehicle emission standards are critical for improving Pakistan’s air quality.
The committee’s prescriptions regarding strict Euro-5 enforcement, refinery upgrades, and ethanol blending are sound, but will they move from paper to pavement any time soon, or will another smog season pass without real action?
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