Installation of air quality monitoring stations hits a snag

The Strategic Planning and Implementation Unit of the Ministry of Environmental Protection has extended the deadline for awarding a contract for the installation of air quality monitoring stations and control rooms in 10 districts of Punjab including in the Rawalpindi district.

Sources said that the deadline was extended as a few international and domestic have so far shown interest to participate in the bidding.

Earlier, tenders were sought from international and national firms for installing these stations including the control rooms.

These stations will also be established in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala, Sargodha and Sialkot, which have higher air pollutants caused by pollution-emitting brick kilns and the burning of crop residues.

The main objective of these networks is to record the concentration levels of atmospheric pollutants to define air quality levels and establish action plans if high levels of contamination are detected.

These stations will keep track of air quality in various places such as residential areas, industrial areas, commercial areas and roadside areas.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2022.