PESHAWAR
\nLike other provinces of Pakistan, the world environment day was observed on Wednesday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where walks, rallies and seminars were held highlighting different level of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change.
\nThe nature and environmental clubs and NGOs besides forest and wildlife departments have taken out rallies, walks and seminars in connection of the day.
\nA rally in connection of world environment day was held in front of Peshawar Press club where participants raised placards against land degradation, climate change and pollution.
\n\u201cLand degradation, desertification and drought resilience was the theme of the world environment day 2024.
\nThe UN Convention to Combat Desertification report revealed that up to 40 per cent of the planet\u2019s land is degraded, directly affecting half of the world\u2019s population in globe.
\nAddressing an awareness seminar here, Gulzar Rehman, former Conservator of Forest KP said that household pollution both in the shape of biomass and solid waste generation is posing serious threats to public health and our environment.
\nHe said the air quality index in Peshawar was unsatisfactory due to high level of pollution.
\n\u201cThe major source of air pollution is vehicular emission followed by household pollution in shape of the burning of fossil fuel, wood and waste for cooking at home.\u201d
\nPeshawar Clean Air Alliance (PCAA) study has revealed that that transport is contributing 58.46 percent in air pollution and is followed by household pollution making a contribution of 11.66 percent while waste burning 4.1 percent and dust 17.67 burning.
\nKhyber Pakhtunkhwa has one of the highest proportions of wood fuel usage, particularly in rural households and about half of Peshawar population lives in rural area. According to 2017 census, about 138000 households in Peshawar used wood as fuel for heating.
\nThe study titled `Status of Air Pollution in Peshawar\u2019 finds that the annual Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in Peshawar has ranged between 61.40 ug\/m3 and 80.09 ug\/mg3, exceeding the current national and provincial standards by 4 to 5 times and WHO air quality guidelines by 12-16 times.
\nHigh level of PM 2.5 have a considerable impacts on the population of Peshawar as the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) estimates that citizen of Peshawar can add up to 2.3 years to their life expectancy if air quality level meets the WHO\u2019s guidelines.
\n\u201cPeshawar has been declared as the third most polluted city in Pakistan and the 9th most polluted in the world in the 2021 World Air Quality report,\u201d says Dr. Adil Zareef, a public health expert and convener of PCAA.
\nDr. Adil said while evaluating the last year data of Peshawar air quality said the city has jumped from third most polluted city in Pakistan to number one. In November and December 2023, sometimes the air quality index of Peshawar crossed the pollution level of Lahore, the most polluted city of Pakistan.
\nAccording to Health Department Report, around 93,000 cases of pneumonia have been reported in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in last year, an indication of an increase in chest and respiratory problems mainly due to toxic air.
\nHe said it is high time for chalking out a multi-sectorial policy to air pollution and safe public from different health-related ailments connected with poor air quality.
\n\u201cIntroduction of \u201cEnvironmental Green Police\u201d can be given a regulatory authority under Environment Protection Agency (EPA) KP to impose environmental penalties on the offenders as is practiced in many countries,\u201d he said.
\nGreen policing can also help in implementation by the regulatory authorities, as the visibly emitting vehicle should be considered a public crime and banned from plying on streets through strict administrative measures.
\n\u201cImproving air quality is a long-term effort and requires a shared vision that\u2019s longer than the political cycle and a multi-sectoral approach,\u201d said Gulzar.
\nAn interactive partnership among the civil society, academia, and public health experts and government can realize the vision for a healthy Peshawar..
\nHe said apart from air pollution, accumulation of solid waste is also a big issue regarding household pollution,\u201d observed Diyar Khan, former director EPA.
\nHe said that a mobile app has been developed for lifting garbage from homes and its proper disposal to keep the city\u2019s environment clean.
\nTitled as `The Kabari\u2019 (Garbage collector), the app provides a facility to people at their doorstep for removal of garbage gathered in their homes causing a nuisance for inmates.
\nHe said the app is launched around two months earlier and is restricted to a specific area of Peshawar.
\nHe said Peshawar is generating around 1000 tonnes of solid waste on daily basis and proper disposal of such a huge quantity waste not only requires resources but also scientific approach.
\nHe stressed spreading awareness about income generation from solid waste through its segregation.
\nHe said he is also earning from Kabari App and such initiatives needed to be taken by a large number of people in other parts of the city.
\nThe charges he made for scarp collection and for payment of used items is very reasonable and up to the satisfaction of customers.
\nThe population of Peshawar is more than five million and at the same time, the city\u2019s solid waste generation almost doubled in the last few years from 580 tonnes per day in 2014 to more than 1,000 tonnes,\u201d shared Sajid Ali, an official of Water and Sanitation Services Peshawaar.
\nUnder this growing burden, the city has struggled to find a suitable site to dump its waste. However, the scientific way of disposal of solid waste requires a lot of financial resources, he added.
\nSajid also urged Peshawar dwellers to take part and cooperate with public sector entities in the resolution of these problems posing severe threats to public health. He said without the cooperation and support of people, WSSP alone cannot remove all the dirt and waste left by people.
\nThe experts said citizens have to show responsibility regarding proper disposal of waste by avoiding litter and making their environment clean and green.
\nThe experts called for afforestration and countering of climate change for clean environment in Pakistan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Like other provinces of Pakistan, the world environment day was observed on Wednesday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where walks, rallies and seminars were held highlighting different level of pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change. The nature and environmental clubs and NGOs besides forest and wildlife departments have taken out rallies, walks and seminars in connection […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":411080,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-411059","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n