By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology & Skill Development (BBS‑UTech) in Khairpur inaugurated the province’s first university-led air quality monitoring station on Thursday. The launch was accompanied by a technical seminar on real-time air pollution monitoring, source profiling, and predictive modelling for resource-constrained rural regions.
The inauguration took place in the university’s Smart Classroom, attended by Deputy Commissioner Khairpur Altaf Ahmed Chachar, faculty, researchers, and other dignitaries. The new station will provide real-time data on air quality and support research on pollution trends and predictive environmental modelling in the region.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Rasool Bux Mahar emphasised the importance of technology-driven environmental monitoring. He noted that air pollution affects human health and livestock, contributing to diseases such as asthma and lung cancer. He described the station as a visionary step, praising BBS‑UTech for setting a precedent in Sindh. “The station reflects our commitment not only to academic excellence but also to social well-being and environmental responsibility,” he said.
Engr. Arif Hussain Lakho, lecturer in the Department of Electronics and principal investigator of the Sindh AirQ Project, explained the technical features of the station. He highlighted that seven million people die annually due to air pollution and stressed the limited implementation of the National Cleaner Air Pollution Policy 2023 in the region.
Deputy Commissioner Chachar praised the initiative and stressed the importance of reliable environmental data for planning and public awareness. He pointed to pollution from brick kilns and poor waste management in Sindh, noting that mitigation efforts in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been more effective.
Chachar also raised concerns about rising cancer and heart attack rates, urging universities to priorities environmental research. He added that a ground monitoring station has been installed to track the Air Quality Index (AQI), and a mobile application will provide citizens with real-time updates on air quality, humidity, rainfall, and preventive measures. He said the administration would fully support the project and hoped it could be expanded across Sindh to raise public awareness.
The seminar was organized by BBS‑UTech’s Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability Centre in collaboration with student societies, including the PM Green Youth Movement Club, Young Peace & Development Corps, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Student Chapter.
Muhammad Dittal Kalahoro, CEO of SRSO, pledged support for students through interest-free loans for innovative projects and encouraged the university to commercialize technological products, such as furniture. Abdul Shakoor, focal person for CCESC, thanked the Deputy Commissioner, university leadership, student societies, faculty, and students for their contributions.
The launch of the Khairpur Air Quality Monitoring Station marks a significant step in combining academic research with public awareness and environmental responsibility, aiming to protect human health and promote sustainable development in rural Sindh.
