The notorious pollutant, nitrogen dioxide gas, is predicted to stay low this year in Pakistan, thanks to the economic and energy crisis that the country is going through. This is seemingly a blessing in disguise because the result is reduced air pollution in the country.
For a few years the cities of Lahore and Karachi are constantly making it to the top charts of air pollution due to the smog. Higher concentration of nitrogen dioxide is released in the air due to the combustion of fossil fuels like petroleum, coal and gas which in turn pollutes it irreversibly.
This time around there is a record decrease of 24 per cent in the annual sale of petrol and diesel in Karachi alone. Simultaneously, there is a 20 percent decrease in the release of nitrogen dioxide.
Lahore has witnessed a decrease of 20 per cent in gas concentration whereas in Islamabad and Peshawar reduction of 14 and 5 per cent are recorded respectively. The same was observed during the winter of Covid times.
It is predicted that compared to last year air pollution will be a little less than it was in the winter. This may affect the lethal and obstructive smog to become a lot less than usual.
