HTVs using diesel termed primary contributors to smoke emissions

Islamabad: The Environmental Monitoring Team of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) and the Islamabad Traffic Police conducted a week-long Vehicular Emission Control and Monitoring Campaign from January 9 to 17 across the federal capital.

During the campaign, a total of 383 vehicles were inspected across various categories, including 80 buses, 47 vans, 30 cars, 120 mini trucks, 93 trucks, and 13 tractors. However, heavy transport vehicles (HTV) using diesel fuel were identified as the primary contributors to smoke emissions, with fines imposed on 27% of the vehicles, a news release said. A rigorous test of soot carbon smoke emissions led to the imposition of 105 fines on vehicles exceeding the National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQS) emission levels by over 40% against the Ringelmann scale. The initiative aimed to address the growing concern about air pollution in Islamabad caused by vehicular emissions.

The basic objective of the survey was to ascertain the factual position of vehicular emissions during the dry spell of winter and their contribution to the formulation of smog in the current fog episode. Air pollution, a significant environmental issue, refers to harmful substances in the air that can adversely affect human health, animals, and the overall ecosystem.

One major contributor to air pollution is vehicular emissions, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, particulate matter, and soot carbon. Soot carbon, emitted from diesel vehicles, contributes to air pollution and poses serious health risks.

According to Article 11 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, no person shall discharge or is allowed to discharge or emit any effluent, waste, air pollutant, or noise in any amount, concentration, or level that is in excess of the National Environmental Quality Standard. The campaign strategically covered seven locations across Islamabad, each carefully chosen to monitor and control vehicular emissions effectively.