In this episode, Adnan Khan (Chief Knowledge Officer, RADS) sits down with host Zuhair Khan (Country Economist, Pakistan IGC) to discuss how pollution is quietly driving one of Pakistan’s most overlooked public health crises. The conversation traces its toll from child mortality rates to overall health outcomes and the frequency of average citizen’s visits to a doctor, framing environmental degradation as much an economic and public health issue as an ecological one. They also unpack Pakistan’s lopsided urban geography, outlining how cities like Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad which pack outsized populations into comparatively small footprints, intensify the downstream effects of pollution. The discussion ends with potential solutions, including rethinking how cities are planned and designed, with greater emphasis on walkability and public transport.
Zuhair Murad Khan is a Country Economist for the International Growth Centre (IGC) Pakistan. His research interests include human development, climate finance, energy and taxation.
Zuhair holds an MA in International Relations with a focus on International Political Economy from the University of Chicago and a BSc in Economics and Political Science from the Lahore University of Management Sciences. Prior to this role, he has worked as a researcher on IGC energy projects in Pakistan and for UNDP’s National Human Development Report. His work focuses on energy, digitalization, and state effectiveness.
Dr. Adnan Khan is the Chief Knowledge Officer at Research and Development Solutions (RADS), where he leads research, health systems analytics, and evidence-to-policy initiatives in Pakistan. An infectious diseases physician and epidemiologist, he holds an MBBS from Dow Medical College and completed his advanced fellowship training at Indiana University and the Regenstrief Institute. His work centers on addressing critical public health challenges, including maternal and child health, immunization systems, family planning, and national disease surveillance and response.