‘Up to 40% reduction in Karachi’s air, noise pollution’

SEPA to take steps to retain improved air quality, noise levels

KARACHI: Across the world, there have been reports of improved air quality and decreased noise pollution during lockdowns prompted by the coronavirus. As people were forced inside their houses awaiting the containment of the threat of the virus, cities witnessed clearer skies and a respite from the usual cacophony.

Karachi was no different. The port city experienced improved air quality and up to 40 per cent decreases in noise pollution during the lockdown. This was disclosed during a dialogue with environmental experts held at the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) complex on the occasion of World Environment Day on Friday.

Officials stated that the improved pollution levels were confirmed after comparison of data collected using the same parametres both now and before the lockdown was enforced.

The meeting decided that the collected data would be shared with all stakeholders - and with industrial and transporter associations and the secretaries of these departments in particular - to convince them to take steps to maintain the improved environmental conditions in the city as broadly as possible.

According to the data collected by SEPA during the lockdown in April from different locations of the city's six districts, the average particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) - the most lethal and stubborn air pollutant - was reduced by 39 per cent as compared to the same data taken from 76 locations of the city in February, prior to the lockdown. Likewise, it showed the noise level in the city also went down by 19 per cent during the lockdown.

It was concluded that both noise and pollutions levels were well below the currently permissible limits of Sindh Environmental Quality standards - a boon for the environment and for human health. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2020.