KP govt asked to take stand on air pollution

PESHAWAR: The Sarhad Conservation Network and Peshawar Clean Air Alliance have said that the deadline to dismantle the old buses has passed but the government has not taken any action against school owners.

In a press release, both bodies said the deadline set for dismantling old school buses by the Transport Department passed in August, this year.They lamented the last meeting at the Commissioner’s Office with stakeholders and officials to tackle the pollution had no follow-up.

The communication said the Transport sector had not taken any action on its earlier commitments against polluting old school buses out of political pressure.Action against rickety smoky buses is long overdue, yet they are still plying the roads, making breathing difficult for the people and neighbourhoods, he pointed out.

It said giving favours or concessions to the schools owned by elites who disregard rules made no sense.The press release said such schools’ only business motive was to charge exorbitant fees with zero public responsibility to the citizens of Peshawar.

It’s also shocking how the wards and students of the schools suffer the terrible health impacts of vehicle emissions that deserved to be in the junkyard and dismantled for longThe communication said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government needed to show political will and take a stand regardless of the political affiliations or favours to a select elite group that disregards the health of the population of Peshawar.

It said these so-called elite schools also give Peshawar a position as the topmost polluted city of the world. The communication said it was time for the KP government to take a firm stand against air pollution and seize these polluting buses. It should stand up to political pressure and blackmail of select elite school owners. It said the public should also stand up for their right to clean air quality through awareness campaigns and talking to relevant authorities or political parties.