Peshawar’s Air Pollution Linked to Shorter Lifespans: Study

News Desk

Peshawar: Residents of Peshawar could be losing more than two years of life expectancy due to hazardous air pollution, according to a new study that paints a troubling picture of the city’s deteriorating air quality and its growing public health impact.

The report, titled “Status of Air Pollution in Peshawar,” found that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the provincial capital exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limits by 12 to 16 times, making air pollution one of the city’s most pressing environmental and health challenges.

Conducted by the Peshawar Clean Air Alliance (PCAA) with support from the Sustainable Energy and Economic Development (SEED) programme, the study is described as Pakistan’s first city-specific assessment of air pollution in a provincial capital.

According to the findings, annual PM2.5 concentrations ranged between 61.40 and 80.09 micrograms per cubic metre, far above both national environmental standards and WHO air quality guidelines.

Using estimates from the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), researchers concluded that residents could increase their average life expectancy by up to 2.3 years if pollution levels were reduced to meet WHO recommendations.

The report identifies road transport as the largest contributor to pollution, accounting for 58.46 percent of emissions. Dust contributes 17.67 percent, followed by domestic sources (11.66 percent), industry (6.58 percent), municipal waste burning (4.10 percent), and solid-fuel use (1.49 percent).

Researchers noted that the city’s rapidly expanding vehicle population has significantly worsened air quality. Between 2012 and 2020, the number of registered vehicles increased by 85 percent, while motorcycles and scooters recorded the sharpest rise at nearly 169 percent.

Poor-quality fuel, ageing vehicles, and emissions from brake and engine wear were also identified as major factors contributing to particulate pollution.

The study highlights another challenge: Peshawar currently lacks a comprehensive air-quality monitoring network, leaving residents without access to real-time pollution data. It also notes that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency lacks the resources and equipment needed to effectively monitor air quality.

To address the problem, researchers recommend expanding air-quality monitoring across the city, improving public access to pollution data, encouraging greater use of public transport, promoting cleaner household heating methods, reducing open waste burning, and integrating air-quality considerations into urban planning.

Among its key proposals is the development of a Peshawar Air Quality Management Plan (PAQMP), which would become Pakistan’s first comprehensive urban policy dedicated to tackling air pollution through coordinated action across multiple sectors.

The report also recommends installing at least 10 low-cost air-quality monitors and one reference-grade monitoring station to measure key pollutants, with real-time pollution information displayed on digital screens in public areas to improve awareness and support policy decisions.