THE severity of air pollution in Peshawar has reached alarming levels, posing serious health risks to the people. According to IQAir’s World Air Quality Report, 2025, Peshawar’s annual average PM2.5 concentration rose from 76.5 in 2023 to 91.0 in 2024 before falling to 81.7 in 2025. In 2026, PM2.5 concentration in Peshawar ranged from 26.6 to 54. The Air Quality Index (AQI) has ranged from 84 to 147 over the period covered by the data. Despite this improvement, the level remains substantially higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) guideline of 5µg/m³. Such persistently high pollution levels pose serious public health risks.
The September 2026 performance report for Peshawar’s Vehicle Emission Testing System (VETS) further underscores the need for enforcement. Of the 10,489 vehicles tested that month, 8,449 met the prescribed fitness and emission standards, while 2,050 failed to meet the requirements. These figures indicate that about one in five of the tested vehicles failed to meet the prescribed standards. Vehicular emissions, road dust and construction activities contribute to air pollution in Peshawar, with transport accounting for 51 per cent of the reported emissions.
The authorities concerned must take action and translate plans into concrete action by strengthening vehicle inspections and ensuring that non-compliant vehicles are repaired before returning to service.
Moreover, the authorities should also control construction dust, and allocate sufficient funds for public transport, cleaner vehicles, parks and green spaces.
Aizaz Ur Rehman
Peshawar
Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2026
