Islamabadians Enjoy Moderate Air Quality Post-Rainfall

News Desk

Islamabad: Residents of Islamabad reported moderate air quality on Tuesday, a welcome change attributed to decreased atmospheric contaminants following months of high air pollution. This improvement came after much-needed rainfall.

The air quality reported as moderate, with levels of air pollution remaining below the permissible limits set by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) in accordance with national environmental quality standards.

According to the agency’s daily air quality report, there was a noticeable reduction in the ratio of air pollutants, all recorded below the allowable thresholds. The Pak-EPA, mandated by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act of 1997, is responsible for safeguarding the environment.

The hazardous air pollutant particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5), previously a significant concern, averaged at 32.41 micrograms per cubic meter, which falls below the national environmental quality standards (NEQS) of 35 micrograms per cubic meter, indicating healthy air quality.

PM 2.5 originates from various sources such as engine combustion, industrial emissions, burning waste or flammable materials, and dust stirred up by fast-moving vehicles on unpaved road sections.

The levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) also remained below NEQS thresholds, primarily emitted during industrial processes utilizing complex chemicals. NO2 levels were recorded at 12.84 micrograms per cubic meter, while SO2 measured 15.33 micrograms per cubic meter.

Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) attributed vehicular emissions, stemming from increased automobile numbers, as a leading contributor to poor air quality. Meanwhile, industrial emissions had decreased due to the implementation of advanced technology in carbon absorption at various steel manufacturing facilities.

Health experts highlighted that prolonged dry winters exacerbated the presence of harmful air pollutants, leading to respiratory illnesses and endemic pneumonia cases in the federal capital. Additionally, the metropolis experienced an abnormal increase in thick and persistent fog compared to previous years.

A Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination official informed APP that there had been no uptick in air pollution and fog during the winter season due to dry weather, heightened human activities, and shifts in weather patterns, resulting in unusually polluted air in the federal capital.

Climatologists and meteorologists are collating data on this phenomenon to identify and understand the precise causes of this unusual weather occurrence, which has led to disruptions in air and land travel, health impacts, and social disturbances due to the closure or interruption of educational institutions.