Islamabad, Rawalpindi shrouded in toxic haze

With air pollution levels continuing to rise, the tourist areas of Murree and Galiyat have also been affected, severely damaging their otherwise pleasant environment. The provincial capital has also been included among the world's most polluted cities.

Outpatient departments of government hospitals are increasingly receiving patients suffering from asthma, respiratory problems, colds, coughs, sore throats and eye irritation. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Islamabad has reached 200, an extremely unhealthy level, while Murree has recorded an AQI of 125 and Rawalpindi 178.

Lahore's AQI has reached 639, while Multan has broken records by crossing the 1,000 mark. The index has reached 935 in Khanewal, 864 in Jhang, 779 in Rahim Yar Khan, 778 in Sahiwal, 764 in Arifwala and 463 in Faisalabad.

Air pollution levels continue to rise. The Environment and Climate Change Department had announced that pollution would be brought completely under control this year in line with the vision of the Punjab chief minister, claiming that modern machinery had been imported for the purpose and that the pre-smog operation had achieved complete control over pollution.

However, all these claims and announcements proved to be a bubble as soon as the smog season began on November 1. The director general of the Environment and Climate Change Department and the deputy director for Rawalpindi district have reportedly remained absent since the beginning of the smog season.

Vehicles emitting smoke include, among others, garbage collection vehicles operating under the Suthra Punjab programme and police vans. Brick kilns, public transport, junkyards, tyre burning, burning of crop residues, factories, heavy vehicles and hospital waste are also contributing to air pollution.

The Rawalpindi office of the Environment and Climate Change Department has started praying for heavy rainfall to control smog.

Meanwhile, Rawalpindi Commissioner Salman Ghani has directed the secretary of the Regional Transport Authority, Civil Defence, the Excise Department, traffic police and the Environment Protection Department to immediately register cases against those operating smoke-emitting brick kilns, factories and stone-crushing machines, as well as those involved in burning tyres, scrap and garbage.