Advanced air quality monitoring stations still a pipe dream
The Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) has failed to set up state-of-the-art stations for tracking the air pollution index in the Rawalpindi district.
Sources said these stations were to be installed at nine divisional locations of Punjab, including Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Lahore, Sahiwal, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan under the au species of the World Bank.
According to sources, despite the release of Rs250 million in funds for the installation of these advanced stations, none of the stations could be established owing to technical difficulties.
The current air pollution index in the garrison city has reached the alarmingly dangerous level of 154 and in the federal capital, 117. Whereas, in other cities of the Rawalpindi district, the index is at 117 in Attock, 130 in Chakwal and 110 in Jhelum.
On the other hand, owing to the low rainfall in the current seasons, the smog has once again intensified to a dangerous level. As a result, colds, coughs and eye sores have spread across Rawalpindi.
District Health Authority Chief Executive Officer, Ansar Ishaq, has advised the citizens to avoid travelling late at night and early in the morning to avoid the effects of smog.
“Cover your head, neck, and body before leaving the house in the morning and evening to go to work,” he said. EPD’s anti-smog squad chief, Ameen Baig, said: “The squad sealed five brick kilns in the anti-smog operation with a fine of Rs0.5 million.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2023.