The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has faced a major setback, with its air quality monitoring system lying inactive for over ten years.
This prolonged failure raises concerns about the operational efficiency of KP’s environmental protection efforts. Originally provided by Japan in 2007, the monitoring system was designed to track harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur compounds, and particulate matter.
However, the equipment, including vital components such as computers, screens, and laptops, has become unusable, crippling the system’s ability to perform its essential function.
Without the technical expertise to repair the system, KP’s EPA has sought assistance from the federal government. However, an estimated budget of Rs 10 million is needed for restoration—a sum the provincial government has yet to provide.
Meanwhile, the EPA has also approached Punjab’s EPA Director General for support in reviving the system. Despite these efforts, progress remains stalled, while the monitoring of air pollution in KP continues to suffer, leaving public health at potential risk.