PESHAWAR: Air quality index rates have risen in the suburban areas of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP)’s Peshawar and were recorded at 178, a report issued by the Environment Protection Department, said here Saturday.
According to an EPA official, the air quality index in suburban areas has seen an upward trend since October, attributed to various factors leading to increased air pollution. The official highlighted that emissions from marble factories and other sources, including school buses, old wagons, rickshaws, and outdated taxis, as well as industrial activities, contribute to environmental pollution.
With the minimum temperature in the provincial capital recorded at 3 degrees Celsius, the air quality index in rural areas has been on the rise since October, prompting the EPA to urge citizens to be vigilant about air pollution and take precautionary measures.
The official disclosed that the increased air quality index has correlated with a rise in cold, cough, and chest diseases in KP.
Additionally, he warned of prevailing smog and fog in the plains of KP and Upper Sindh during morning and night hours, with no prospects of rain in the foreseeable future. The elevated air quality index has been linked to an increase in chest, skin, eye, and lung diseases. As a precautionary measure, people are advised to close their windows and wear masks when outdoors to shield against the adverse effects of polluted air.
