Islamabad’s Ambient Air Quality Improves to A Healthy Level

Islamabad has managed to retain its ambient air quality during the monsoon season, keeping a lower pollutant ratio consistently.  

The pollution level, with regards to particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5), has plunged below the permissible ratio of 35 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), standing at 26.77 mg/m³. The 24-hour average of other environmental pollutants has gone below the permissible limits, making a healthy and ideal air quality.

However, the air quality was affected at times because of high vehicular emissions by automobiles running on the roads during busy hours.

ALSO READ

Anti-Smog Measures: Air Quality Stations Established Across Pakistan

The daily ambient air quality report of the capital city compiled by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA) has revealed that the 24-hour average ratio of nitrogen dioxide (NO²) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂) were 13.02 mg/m³ and 5.95 mg/m³ respectively.

Currently, they are recorded at 10.77 mg/m³ and 5.02 mg/m³ respectively against the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) of 80 mg/m³ and 120 mg/m³.

However, the concentration of PM2.5 during the day and evening times are relatively high. Nevertheless, the overall air quality of Islamabad is healthy.