PESHAWAR, Jul 18 (APP): Once dubbed the “City of Flowers,” Peshawar today is grappling with a monster challenge of air pollution that has dimmed its natural beauty and is choking the health and patience of its more than two million residents.
Instead of the fragrant scent of jasmine and roses during the monsoon season, Peshawarties are now forced to inhale fumes from smoke-emitting rickshaws, old taxis, unfit wagons and overloaded passenger vehicles.
From Dabgari garden to the historic GT Road, the city is witnessing an alarming increase in traffic congestion and air pollution that could be seen even with a naked eye.
Narrow roads, ill-planned construction of the BRT corridor, frequent protests at Survey bridges against KP Govt, and VVIP movements are further compounding the city’s transportation and air pollution woes. The situation becomes dire around sensitive locations such as Lady Reading Hospital, where ambulances with blaring sirens are often stranded for hours.
Nasir Khan, a property dealer, painfully recalled a recent ordeal and said that a trip that should have taken 30 minutes stretched into two hours while coming from Dabgari gardens to Peshawar Transport Stand. I was stuck in my car, pressing the clutch and brake for hours which was unbearable for my family,” he said. “It’s not just about time; rather it was about the mental and physical toll.”
The overreliance on informal public transport, mostly unregistered rickshaws and taxis, is a significant contributor to air pollution. A KP Transport Department official acknowledged that a vast majority of rickshaws on Peshawar’s roads operate without permits, placing the onus on traffic police to clamp down on illegal operations.
Professor Dr. Shafiqur Rehman, former Chairman of the Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Peshawar, highlighted the country’s disturbing standing among the world’s most polluted countries due to high consumption of poor petrol and unfit transport vehicles plying on Peshawar’s roads.
“Our PM2.5 levels, which is a key indicator of air pollution, consistently exceed WHO’s safe limits,” he said and claimed that in 2024, Pakistan ranked among the top five most polluted nations globally in terms of PM 2.5 pollution.”
He warned that these levels of pollution are directly linked to increased respiratory diseases, heart problems, and even premature deaths of children. Urban centres like Lahore, Karachi, and Peshawar are particularly vulnerable due to vehicular and industrial emissions and underscored the need for whopping plantation.
Dr. Fazal Sattar, former principal of Khyber Medical College and a renowned ENT specialist, added that prolonged exposure to air pollution especially by traffic policemen, shopkeepers and labourers caused a spike in chronic pulmonary diseases in recent years in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
“I have lost patients to conditions aggravated by poor air quality,” he said, calling for urgent action by encouraging electric vehicles and afforestation in cities.
Amid this grim reality, there is a glimmer of hope in the federal government’s recent pivot toward electric vehicles (EVs). Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of large-scale distribution of electric bikes, and loaders among position holders students besides general masses have garnered widespread support in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Dr. Ebad Khan, a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly and leader of the opposition, welcomed the Prime Minister initiative and emphasized that the scheme is not just about reducing air pollution but also about economic uplift and generation of employment opportunities for youth.
“The government plans to provide over 100,000 electric bikes and 300,000 electric loaders through subsidized loans. It’s a win-win for both the environment and job creation,” he said.
Dr. Ebad further stressed that a 25% quota for women and equitable distribution across provinces ensures inclusivity. The plan also includes awarding electric bikes to high-achieving students from all educational boards. Experts say this could encourage eco-conscious commuting habits among the youth and promote academic excellence.
He underscored the need for strengthening Peshawar’s existing infrastructure and mass awareness about EV maintenance viz viz utility. Moreover, he called for replacement of illegal and smoke-emitting rickshaws to take full benefits of EVs. “The success of this program depends on complementary policies like stricter emission laws, better traffic regulation, and investment in infrastructure,” said Dr Rehman added.
The move toward electric vehicles is not a silver bullet but it is a vital step in the right direction. For a city like Peshawar, where environmental degradation is not just visible but also breathable, embracing EVs could help reclaim its lost identity as the City of Flowers.
From policymakers and law enforcement to educators and transporters, all stakeholders must now act in unison. Only then can the dream of clean air, smoother traffic, and healthier lives become a reality for Peshawarties and citizens across Pakistan.
