PESHAWAR, Aug 23 (APP):A meeting of Peshawar Clean Air Alliance (PCAA), an amalgam of civil society activists, academia, researchers, environmentalists, health experts, media and policy makers, was apprised that the initiative taken by them around one and a half year earlier for improving air quality of provincial metropolis is expanding its scope to other districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The alliance formed in June 2021 by few concerned individuals has now a list of around 111 active members while its research based report on Air Quality of Peshawar has diverted the attention of a large section of society including the policy makers who are now taking the issue seriously and wanted to make contribution in improving air quality in the region,” said Nazish Afraz of SEED, a partner organization of PCAA, while speaking with the participants of the meeting.

“Bank of Khyber (BoK), the largest bank of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has made a pledge with SEED of installing 20 air quality monitors in its branches through out the province, Nazish added.

She said these air quality monitors installed at different branches of BoK will share data of air quality on daily basis and help in understanding the environmental standard especially of air pollution level in the province ensuing in policy level decisions for quality improvement.

Apart of it, she continued, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also showing very proactive approach in response to activities initiated on PCAA platform and convinced policy makers for earmarking a hefty amount of Rs. 100 million in annual budget for current fiscal year for air quality monitoring in KP.

“Peshawar ranked among the most polluted cities in the world and hopefully the efforts launched from the platform of PCAA and through involvement of other relevant departments will help in improving the air quality of the provincial metropolis and of the whole region,” hoped Omar Mukhtar, Team Leader SEED.

He said SEED is also working over evaluating impact of polluted air on Health of denizens of Peshawar and soon will share its finding with group members and policy makers.

The air quality report of PCAA has helped in formulation of Green Transport Strategy for KP as the report mentioned Transport sector as the main contributor of air pollution, decreasing life expectancy by around three years in Peshawar due to poor quality of air.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Adil Zareef, prominent social activist and founder of PCAA, laid stress on expanding the scope of activities of PCAA to different departments and sections of society.

He also suggested for involvement of environment students by arranging some awareness activities for them at different locations of Peshawar.

In this regard it was also agreed that introductory sessions should also be held for students of different varsities in the province.

Similarly, Adil continued, the data collected by air monitors in Peshawar by PCAA be shared on daily basis on social media for information of general public and policy makers.

Some of the participants also made suggestions for making contribution in capacity building of officials of Vehicle Emission Testing Station (VETS) and EPA as well.

A proposal was also forwarded that Green Police be introduced in the city which should take action on the spot over violation of environmental issues.

The meeting concluded with the note that concerted efforts by individuals and institutions will help in resolving the problems of environmental degradation threatening health and lives of million of dwellers of the region.