Classes from world megacities present data-driven transport and air-quality reforms can reverse pattern
The grand Faisal Mosque is seen coated in heavy smog in Islamabad. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad, as soon as often known as a metropolis of parks and gardens, is now confronting a full-fledged smog season. Skies have turned grey-brown, and the air typically tastes metallic earlier than midday. With the Air High quality Index (AQI) exceeding the 200 mark, residents are reporting a pointy rise in eye infections, throat ache, and nasal and pores and skin allergic reactions.
Opposite to the favored narrative that blames cross-border air pollution, latest experiences present that air air pollution in Islamabad and Rawalpindi is essentially domestically pushed. Transportation accounts for 53% of emissions, with over 1,000,000 autos registered in Islamabad over the previous decade alone.
Analysis signifies that tyre and brake put on generate substantial PM2.5 particles — tiny fragments of rubber, steel, and artificial supplies that turn into airborne with each acceleration and braking cycle. The issue worsens throughout winter, when chilly temperatures entice pollution near the bottom. With little wind or rain to disperse them, a dense brown haze settles over city areas. The encircling Margalla Hills act as a bodily barrier, successfully trapping this layer of complete suspended particles to kind persistent smog.
Though the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has begun cracking down on smoke-emitting autos, however what we’d like proper now could be to discourage using personal autos the place attainable. For instance, a brief automobile journey to drop kids in school (as an alternative of utilizing faculty bus) may appear innocent, but when we multiply this by 1000’s of households, then the cumulative impact creates air pollution hotspots exactly in these instructional establishments.
Exterior elite colleges in sectors F-6, F-7, and F-8, morning site visitors jams characterize greater than congestion. Residents regularly report irritability, issue concentrating, and a way of heaviness on high-pollution days, together with a claustrophobic feeling when visibility drops. Air pollution is just not merely shortening lives by just a few years; additionally it is eroding day by day productiveness and creating an financial disaster in disguise.
Islamabad additionally faces a uniquely harmful problem. Town has earned the repute of being the “allergy capital of the world,” with pollen counts reaching 45,000 grains per cubic metre in spring. When winter smog transitions into pollen season, residents endure a devastating one-two punch. Airways broken by months of PM2.5 publicity turn into hypersensitive to the huge pollen inflow.
It’s crucial that Islamabad draw classes from megacities reminiscent of Beijing, New York, and Jakarta to develop a reputable coverage roadmap. These cities adopted a mixture of public consciousness campaigns and in depth information assortment. Beijing decreased PM2.5 ranges by over 50% inside a decade via systematic, evidence-based interventions, whereas New York achieved related success via sustained dedication to scrub air insurance policies.
Constructing on these classes, Islamabad ought to pursue a multi-pronged technique grounded in information and proof. For example, we must always set up air high quality monitoring tools in each neighbourhood, with real-time information made accessible via public dashboards. When residents can see air pollution and pollen ranges of their instant environment, behavioural change turns into attainable. These dashboards may additionally estimate the years of life expectancy misplaced to air pollution and generate alerts for weak teams, together with kids, the aged, and people with bronchial asthma.
As a substitute of rolling out untested blanket insurance policies, town may conduct managed experiments throughout comparable neighbourhoods. One sector may pilot inexperienced transport corridors, whereas one other enforces stricter automobile emission controls. Sure roads could possibly be closed to non-public vehicles throughout early morning hours, permitting solely mass transit and faculty buses.
This “parallel earths” strategy would reveal which interventions ship the best well being and air-quality advantages in Islamabad’s particular context. Any greening initiatives should additionally think about allergenic potential; changing paper mulberry bushes with low-allergen species may scale back pollen masses whereas enhancing air high quality.
Since air pollution peaks throughout winter, we have to develop winter emergency response techniques much like heatwave protocols. Throughout excessive air pollution episodes, short-term automobile restrictions, building moratoriums, and enhanced public transport companies needs to be enforced.
Pakistan skilled unusually clear air through the 2020 pandemic lockdown, and periodic “clear air days” with focused automobile restrictions may replicate these advantages with out inflicting financial injury.
Islamabad’s smog disaster might really feel overwhelming, however cities world wide have proven that dramatic enchancment is achievable. The actual query is just not whether or not Islamabad can clear up its smog drawback, however whether or not it could actually summon the political will and sustained dedication required to take action.
THE WRITER IS A CAMBRIDGE GRADUATE AND WORKS AS A STRATEGY CONSULTANT
