The Environment Ministry has planned to introduce Euro-2 standards for vehicles in the country to make the environment cleaner and people-friendly. Sources at the Ministry said on Tuesday that petrol vehicles in the country would start observing these standards from January 2009, although Euro standards for diesel vehicles is still a far cry.
The Automotive Parts Manufacturing Association has already consented to observe Euro-2 standards from January next year, sources told APP. "Although our diesel vehicles also need to abide by Euro standards and convert to clean fuel, but certain technicalities are still hampering this process," they said. "The Association has agreed to observe Euro standards, but has demanded provision of Euro fuel for conversion of the vehicles to these standards," they added.
But the oil refineries foresee massive investment in introducing these standards, sources said, and added that Environment Minister Hamidullah Jan Afridi has convened a meeting of stakeholders to discuss this issue. The government, under its 'Clean Air Programme', has installed air pollution monitoring system in Islamabad and all provincial capitals. Centralised data is gathered daily at the laboratory set up in Islamabad.
It is also consulting with the petroleum companies to bring down sulphur use, 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 of GHGs.
Pollution of suspended particulate matters in the air, during recent years, has exceeded four to five times the WHO prescribed standards. "Particulate matters are the major pollutants and hazardous for the environment and human health," experts note with concern.
"Most of the time, the particulate matter density rises to more than 100 microgram per cubic metre instead of 35," say the Ministry officials managing the pollution data. Meanwhile, leakage of methane from CNG station is also one of the polluters, and a contributor to climate change. Sources said that the government is also encouraging conversion of the vehicles using petrol and diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG).