Daily Times

With smog and air pollution rising in federal capital, December had been the most polluted month in terms of particulate matter 2.5 microns since this phenomenon first time started occurring in Islamabad in 2018.

Hazardous smog spells in winters with clout of dust, smoke, particulate matter and fog soared to new levels of ambient air pollution on December 22, 2024 after the AQI spiked up to 250 making air quality unhealthy. Inhabited next to Margalla Hills, the capital, couple of decades back, was an attraction for visitors, tourists and travelers due to its cleaner roads, serene and calm evenings and above all natural environment.

But, rising human and vehicular population, unruly development of housing societies and smoke emitting industries continued marring its beauty and ambiance. Just during past decade over a million vehicles were registered with Islamabad’s Excise and Taxation Department and besides these, not less than half a million vehicles regularly enter the metropolis emitting various gases and smoke.

“Dust is the main particle adding to air pollution with addition of smoke and particulate matter of 2.5 microns,” said Director Labs and National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), Dr. Zaigham Abbas. “Temperature inversion and fog caused after suspension of dew drops in atmosphere due to drop in mercury during winters also leave a misty and vague ambience.”

Mentioning to some infrastructure projects executed during last year that added to rise in dust particles, Dr Zaigham also described brick kilns operating in capital’s periphery and steel manufacturing units in its industrial areas as real nuisance and cause of dark smoke and air pollution.

“But, by now 30 kilns have been converted to zigzag technology and Pak-EPA after concerted efforts and intervention of the Supreme Court has introduced an indigenous dry scrubber technology to sequester dark carbon and help spew white smoke without hazardous black carbon.”

“We shall also be offering Punjab government this technology to control dark smoke in Lahore emitted by different industrial units as it is cost effective and can help chip many blocks together,” Zaigham said.

Air Quality Index (AQI) data maintained by Pak-EPA’s fixed and mobile air quality monitors revealed that November and December remained the most polluted months with November hosting two very unhealthy days and December a total of five very unhealthy days including December 22, the most polluted day bearing 250 AQI and over 200 micrograms per cubic meter PM 2.5 emissions.

Pak-EPA records ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Sulphur dioxide (SO2) besides PM2.5 as main ambient pollutants in the air. Interestingly, all of remaining pollutants remained below permissible levels except PM2.5 that persistently surged obviously due to increasing vehicular emissions, construction activities, garbage or compost burning and cross-boundary pollution.

“We are planning a massive onsite air quality monitoring activity with the support of third party organizations registered with Pak-EPA,” Dr Zaigham said. “This time it will be beyond urban and repeatedly monitored areas and new housing societies grown around federal capital will be targeted to assess their share in air pollution.”

“It will help EPA devise better strategy and punitive measures to contain air pollution,” he said and also mentioned to imposing section 144 in the capital banning all sorts of waste, stubble, dead leaves and compost burning.

As Pak-EPA actively involves in curtailing air pollution, Dr. Zaigham also mentioned to occasionally checking and imposing fines on vehicles exceeding NEQS emission levels. In November 2024, Islamabad authorities imposed a ban on entry of smoke-emitting vehicles into city limits to combat smog and environmental pollution. This prohibition extends to all types of vehicles including private, government and commercial ones.

Meanwhile, Dr. Zia Ul Haq, a senior pulmonologist at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), has observed a notable increase in respiratory ailments among residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, attributing this surge to heightened air pollution and persistent dry weather. “Exposure to dry and cold air can cause breaches in the lining of respiratory tract, leading to infections and damage to normal secretions within the breathing organs,” he said.

To mitigate these health risks, Dr. Haq advises individuals, especially those above 50 or with chronic heart, kidney or lung conditions, to receive flu vaccinations during peak winter months. “Such people should avoid unnecessary outdoor activities during mornings and evenings, wear face masks, cover themselves when outside and consume hot drinks to protect respiratory tract during poor air quality.”