Air pollution in capital four times higher than prescribed standards

Federal Capital is experiencing four times higher air pollution these days than the internationally prescribed standards, posing serious health and environmental hazards.
The level of pollution recorded on November 12 by Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) stood at 138 microgram per meter cube instead of minimum standard pollution level of 35 microgram per meter cube.
Sources at the Environment Ministry confirmed to APP the air pollution level and feared more people falling ill due to mounting air pollution level.
These sources described the ongoing development activities in the Federal Capital, increase in vehicles number and the emission from the I-9 industrial area as the major cause of air pollution.
"It is more lethal when the dust mixes with smoke and it remains suspended overhead. It effects the human health much," the sources said. Director General Pak-EPA Asif Shuja Khan when contacted also confirmed the pollution level and described it extra ordinary as far as Conventional Air Pollution was concerned. "Our station had recorded it at 135 microgram/meter cube and it unusually higher than the prescribed standards," Asif Shuja said.
He also mentioned to particulate matters as small as 2.5 microgram which he said, were more lethal than any other particulate. "These particulate matters travel to the lungs when people inhale polluted air and result in number of diseases like cough, bronchitis and even pre-mature deaths due to heart attack," he said.
These particulate, he said, also have a tendency to travel to thousands of miles and can hit even people living in less polluted areas.
In a recent regional study conducted by United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has identified Brown Cloud over the region which pose serious threats not only to human health but also aggravate environmental hazards.
Although the government is carrying forward its Clean Air Program yet the pollution level and environmental degradation across the country is on rise. The government under its Clean Air Program has installed air pollution monitoring system at Islamabad and all the provincial capitals. Centralised data is gathered at the laboratory set up in Islamabad.
It is also consulting with the petroleum companies to bring down sulphur usage, a major air pollutant and emission of gases resulting in climate change. Measures are also on way to introduce clean fuels, regular inspection of vehicles, installation of pollution control devices at industrial units and discourage emission.
The government is also encouraging conversion of petrol and diesel run vehicles to Compressed Natural gas (CNG) to help check growing environmental pollution.