ISLAMABAD: The air quality of the federal capital remained healthy for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, as the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency’s (Pak-EPA) daily air quality report indicated a reduced ratio of air pollutants recorded below permissible limits.

The agency is responsible for ensuring the protection of the environment under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997.

The hazardous air pollutant particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5), which is a hazardous atmospheric contaminant, remained 28 micrograms per cubic metre on average, which was lower than the national environmental quality standards (NEQS) of 35 micrograms per cubic metre and denoted the air quality as healthy.

PM 2.5 is generated through the combustion of engines, industrial emissions, burning garbage or inflammable material, and dust blown up by fast-moving cars plying on non-cemented patches of the roads.

The ratio of nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide (NO2 and SO2, respectively) also remained below the NEQS that were mostly produced during industrial emissions from factories involving extraordinary use of chemical in production processes.

The NO2 remained at 11.64 micrograms per cubic metre, and the SO2 was at 12.14 micrograms per cubic metre.

The EPA officials claimed that vehicular emissions due to increased automobiles were one of the leading causes of bad air quality. Industrial emissions had already subsided due to carbon-absorbing advanced technology installed at various steel manufacturing units.

Earlier, the Environmental Monitoring Team of the Pak-EPA and the Islamabad Traffic Police conducted a week-long Vehicular Emission Control and Monitoring Campaign from January 9 to 17 across the federal capital.

During the campaign, a total of 383 vehicles were inspected across various categories, including 80 buses, 47 vans, 30 cars, 120 mini trucks, 93 trucks, and 13 tractors. However, heavy transport vehicles (HTV) using diesel fuel were identified as the primary contributors to smoke emissions, with fines imposed on 27% of the vehicles.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2024