Air Quality in Air Quality in Rawalpindi/IslamabadRawalpindi/Islamabad

ByBy

Dr. Irshad AhmadDr. Irshad Ahmad

National ConsultantNational Consultant

NAME OF THE CITY: Rawalpindi / IslamabadNAME OF THE CITY: Rawalpindi / Islamabad FACT FILE OF THE CITYFACT FILE OF THE CITY

– LocationLocationIslamabad, Pakistan's federal capital, is Islamabad, Pakistan's federal capital, is a new city standing back to back with a new city standing back to back with an old one Rawalpindi which is the an old one Rawalpindi which is the northern most division of Punjab. The northern most division of Punjab. The twin cities with contrasting charms.twin cities with contrasting charms.

LocationLocation– Islamabad is divided Islamabad is divided

into well planned into well planned squares and rectangles squares and rectangles contrasting sharply contrasting sharply with Rawalpindi which with Rawalpindi which sprawls across the map sprawls across the map with the accidental with the accidental irregularities of irregularities of ancient human ancient human settlements.settlements.

NAME OF THE CITY: Rawalpindi / IslamabadNAME OF THE CITY: Rawalpindi / Islamabad

NAME OF THE CITY: NAME OF THE CITY: Rawalpindi / IslamabadRawalpindi / Islamabad

Islamabad boasts of the only Lok Virsa or the Folk Islamabad boasts of the only Lok Virsa or the Folk Art museum in the country, besides Faisal Mosque, Art museum in the country, besides Faisal Mosque, which is one of the biggest mosques in the world. which is one of the biggest mosques in the world.

It also has a Natural History museum, along with It also has a Natural History museum, along with some of the most eye catching hill resorts such as some of the most eye catching hill resorts such as Daman-e-koh, Margalla hills, Sanduri and many Daman-e-koh, Margalla hills, Sanduri and many others.others.

Islamabad being the federal capital is also the Islamabad being the federal capital is also the custodian of the Parliament House, Presidency, custodian of the Parliament House, Presidency, and all the foreign Embassies. and all the foreign Embassies.

NAME OF THE CITY: Rawalpindi / Islamabad NAME OF THE CITY: Rawalpindi / Islamabad

Rawalpindi presents a sharp and total Rawalpindi presents a sharp and total contrast to Islamabad's brave new world. contrast to Islamabad's brave new world. It is at the end of the famous Salt Range It is at the end of the famous Salt Range and is the gateway to the Silk Route. and is the gateway to the Silk Route. It is also the base camp of thrill seekers It is also the base camp of thrill seekers from the over the world, who buckle-up from the over the world, who buckle-up here, to meet the most deadly and here, to meet the most deadly and treacherous peaks in the world - the treacherous peaks in the world - the Karakorums. Karakorums. Rawalpindi is famous for being a strong Rawalpindi is famous for being a strong military cantonment, standing square on military cantonment, standing square on the ancient Grand Trunk Road, almost the ancient Grand Trunk Road, almost between Lahore and Peshawar. between Lahore and Peshawar.

NAME OF THE CITY: Rawalpindi / Islamabad NAME OF THE CITY: Rawalpindi / Islamabad

The town's bazaars - Saddar, Raja, The town's bazaars - Saddar, Raja, Sarafa and Murree Road - offer an Sarafa and Murree Road - offer an absorbing pot pourri of the absorbing pot pourri of the workmanship of the neighboring workmanship of the neighboring regions. regions.

All these things, reminiscent of a cross All these things, reminiscent of a cross section of places and people beckon a section of places and people beckon a traveler to visit the twin cities.    traveler to visit the twin cities.   

NAME OF THE CITY NAME OF THE CITY Rawalpindi / IslamabadRawalpindi / Islamabad

Brief history of the cityBrief history of the city– Rawalpindi was originally called Rawalpindi was originally called

Fatchpur Boari:Fatchpur Boari:– The history of Rawalpindi dates The history of Rawalpindi dates

back to antiquity. back to antiquity. – The Aryans could, perhaps, be The Aryans could, perhaps, be

described as the pioneer invaders described as the pioneer invaders of this area: for they started it all in of this area: for they started it all in the 15th century B.c. the 15th century B.c.

NAME OF THE CITY NAME OF THE CITY Rawalpindi / IslamabadRawalpindi / Islamabad

Brief history of the cityBrief history of the city– In 1008 A.D., Mahmood of Ghazna In 1008 A.D., Mahmood of Ghazna

crossed the Indus, conquered this crossed the Indus, conquered this part of the country and gave it to the part of the country and gave it to the Chief of Gakkhar tribe to rule. Chief of Gakkhar tribe to rule.

– The site where the city stands today The site where the city stands today was then known as Rawalpindi, after was then known as Rawalpindi, after the name of a small village where the the name of a small village where the Rawals, a wandering tribe, had Rawals, a wandering tribe, had settled. settled.

NAME OF THE CITY NAME OF THE CITY Rawalpindi / IslamabadRawalpindi / Islamabad

•Cultural and architectural Cultural and architectural highlightshighlights

On the basis of archaeological On the basis of archaeological discoveries, archaeologists discoveries, archaeologists believe that a distinct culture believe that a distinct culture flourished on this plateau as far flourished on this plateau as far back as 3,000 years.back as 3,000 years.

FACT FILE OF THE CITYFACT FILE OF THE CITYWeather / seasons / windWeather / seasons / wind

– Climate is subhumid to subtropical continental, receiving rainfall from both monsoon and western disturbances.

– Four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autmn

– Wind direction is evenly distributed throughout the year. In the late afternoons, winds are mainly from southwest, except in July and August when southeastern winds dominate.

FACT FILE OF THE CITYFACT FILE OF THE CITYrain/ temperaturerain/ temperature

– The maximum rainfall occurs during the monsoon season from July to September. The average rainfall is about 1,044 millimeters per year, with more than 50% occurring in monsoon season.

– The mean maximum temperature ranges from

25.6oC to 39.4oC (78.1oF to 103oF) in June and the mean minimum temperature ranges from 3.2oC to 16.7oC (37.8oF to 62oF) in January.

City Population ('000)

Setting Annual Avg. Wind Speed

Estimated Number of Vehicles per 1000 Persons

Major Pollution Sources

Rawalpindi-Islamabad

1,931 Plateau 0.9 m/s 133 Vehicles, Brick kilns, waste burning

NAME OF THE CITY NAME OF THE CITY Rawalpindi / IslamabadRawalpindi / Islamabad

FACT FILE OF THE CITYFACT FILE OF THE CITY

PopulationPopulation

– Rawalpindi Rawalpindi == 1700,000 approx (2003)1700,000 approx (2003)

– Islamabad Islamabad == 1000,000 approx (2003)1000,000 approx (2003)

FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF THE CITYCONCERNS OF THE CITY

1. High Particulate Matter (PM): 1. High Particulate Matter (PM):

2. High NOx2. High NOx__

3. 3. High content of leadHigh content of lead

4. SOx Concentration4. SOx Concentration

5. CO Concentration5. CO Concentration

FIVE SAMPLING SITESFIVE SAMPLING SITES

FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF THE CITYCONCERNS OF THE CITY

Among the air pollutants, extremely high value is shown for SPM and the secondary high value is for NOx data. Rest of the parameters such as SO2, CO and O3 generally do not exceed the AQS values. Among the 2 cities investigated, Islamabad shows lower concentration. The reason considered in case of high concentration of CO at Aabpara Chowk, IS the parking of the mobile station in the middle of slope on the road.

FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF THE CITYCONCERNS OF THE CITY

Aabpara cross have traffic signals at each corner and the vehicles after changing the signal crosses at the same time emit higher concentration of NOx while passing to the ascending slopes.The high concentration of NOx data also depends on the proportional increased rate by the number of vehicles.

FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF THE CITYCONCERNS OF THE CITY

1. High Particulate Matter (PM): 1. High Particulate Matter (PM): PM in twin cities is largely derived from:– vehicular and industrial emissions, – burning of solid waste, – brick kilns and – natural dusts.

A recently conducted ambient air quality study to examine the pollution levels in traffic congested areas in Rawalpindi, Islamabad revealed that the average suspended particulate matter in twin cities was 6.4 times higher than WHO guidelines and 3.8 times higher than Japanese guidelines. Japanese Standard at 200 µg/m3 (1 hr.) or WHO guideline at 120 µg/m3 (24 hrs.)

SPM Data in Rawalpindi/IslamabadSPM Data in Rawalpindi/Islamabad

Max. Concentration of PM10 in Six Major Cities of Pakistan

130

175

243

289.7

208

248 238.1

297.6289

367.98

250

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Karachi Lahore Peshawar Quetta Rawalpindi Islamabad

Cities

PM

10

Co

n. i

n u

g/m

3

1998

1999

2002

May-03

2003(1st Cycle)

US EPA Permissible Limit for PM10 (Annual mean is 150 ug/m3

* Study by SUPARCO

FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF THE CITYCONCERNS OF THE CITY

2. High NOx:2. High NOx:– It is a harmful gas among the air pollutants,

therefore, the AQS value is 110 ppb for 1 hour and 40 ~ 60 ppb for 24 hours by WHO and Japanese standard.

– This investigation shows that 80% of the obtained data exceed Japanese standard and 30% of the data exceeded the WHO guideline.

– NO and NO2 occur mainly due to the combustion of fossil fuels. The sources of these gases in the atmosphere are the mobile emission and stationary sources, such as the boilers and furnaces of industrial activities.

NO DataNO Data

NOx DataNOx Data

LocationLocationN

FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF THE CITYCONCERNS OF THE CITY

3. High Lead: 3. High Lead:

– High level of lead was found at Murree High level of lead was found at Murree Road and Abpara ChowkRoad and Abpara Chowk

– Murree RoadMurree Road == 10.23 ug/M10.23 ug/M33

– AbparaAbpara == 10.93 ug/M10.93 ug/M33

– WHOWHO == 0.5-1.0 ug/M0.5-1.0 ug/M33

FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF THE CITYCONCERNS OF THE CITY

4. SOx Concentration: 4. SOx Concentration:

–the concentration of SO2 was found lower than that of Japanese EAQS and WHO guidelines at all five points.

SO2 DataSO2 Data

Comparison of SO2 DataComparison of SO2 Data

Comparison of SO2 MethodsComparison of SO2 Methods

FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FIVE MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF THE CITYCONCERNS OF THE CITY

5. CO Concentration:5. CO Concentration:– It is one of the emission gases from

gasoline motor vehicles, therefore, it was expected higher concentration of CO on the roadside of sampling sites. On the contrary, the results of CO investigation were very low, that means the number of vehicles passing nearby the sampling points were in small numbers compared with other foreign cities.

CO DataCO Data

Comparison of CO DataComparison of CO Data

Hourly data at Murree RoadHourly data at Murree Road

AIR POLLUTION IN THE CITYAIR POLLUTION IN THE CITY

sources of air pollution sources of air pollution –vehicular emissions–industrial emissions, –burning of solid waste, –brick kilns

EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION

Smog: Large conc. Of PM in he Smog: Large conc. Of PM in he atmosphere produce some general atmosphere produce some general effects. effects.

Smoke and fumes tend to increase Smoke and fumes tend to increase atmospheric turbidity reducing atmospheric turbidity reducing visibilityvisibility

Lung Diseases due to PMLung Diseases due to PM

CITY’S RESPONSE TO THE CITY’S RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM OF AIR POLLUTIONPROBLEM OF AIR POLLUTION

City government levelCity government level

Civil Society/ NGOs levelCivil Society/ NGOs level

Litigation ( public Litigation ( public interest)interest)

Federal Level supportFederal Level support

International support International support

PROBLEMS & WEAKNESSESPROBLEMS & WEAKNESSES

Administrative/policing structure of Administrative/policing structure of the city governmentthe city government

Financial resourceFinancial resource

Technical supportTechnical support

Participatory support ( NGOs/ Civil Participatory support ( NGOs/ Civil SocietySociety

National Cleaner Production Center for FuelsNational Cleaner Production Center for Fuels

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention