When we talk of pollution in the country, we usually think in terms of cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad. But the situation in the city of Peshawar is just as bad if not worse. With ever-increasing population and the influx of Afghan refugees, along with unplanned growth and absence of a proper regulatory system, the environment of Peshawar, once considered to be quite good, has reached an alarming level of deterioration.

A study conducted by Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) under the ENERCON/UNDP Fuel Efficiency in Road Transport Sector (Ferts) Project, in 2003-2004, in six major cities: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad/Rawalpindi, Peshawar and Quetta, for such pollutants as Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Hydrocarbons, Lead, Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), Ozone, Particulate Matter (PM), PM10, and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), showed that PM10 concentrations in most cities including Peshawar exceed 150ug/m3 (micrograms/meter-cubed) levels.

Taking notice of the scale of the problem, a seminar on 'Towards Clean Air in Peshawar' was held in the NWFP capital at the initiative of the city government in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) NWFP, with the assistance of The World Conservation Union (IUCN). It was heartening to see the presence of all concerned governmental and private and civil society organisations at the moot, which was reflective of their desire to contribute positively and prodigiously in bringing down the level of air pollution in the provincial metropolis.

The committee -- comprising CD&MD (City Development and Municipal Department), EPA, PCSIR, Suparco, Department of Physical Chemistry, University of Peshawar -- that has been set-up will hopefully live up to its task of coming up with coordinated and cumulative action to address the problem of air pollution from both stationary and mobile sources.

With all the citizens being involved in this deterioration of air quality and environment in Peshawar, the District Naib Nazim, Razaullah Khan was not at all off the mark when he stressed for a holistic approach to tackle the issue.

Just as all of us have contributed in creating this environmental mess, it will take our combined efforts to change and improve it.

In addition to concerted environmental conservation programmes by the government, public awareness campaigns are direly needed for mass scale betterment of the situation.

It is only when we have a citizenry that is informed and aware of the value and importance of having a good, clean environment that all public and private efforts will be successful.

Source: http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/mar2006-daily/17-03-2006/oped/editorial.htm#2