By Syed Tauqeer Zaidi
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the World Bank have joined forces to tackle air pollution, holding a consultative meeting on the Smog Action Plan and Air Quality Management via video link, officials said.
The KP delegation was led by Secretary Climate Change Junaid Khan and included Special Secretary Talha Hussain Faisal, Additional Secretary Ahmad Kamal, MPA Ahmad Karim Kundi, and senior Environmental Protection Agency officers. The World Bank team highlighted the need for an airshed-based approach, stressing that pollution crosses administrative boundaries and requires regional cooperation.
Mr Shafiq from the World Bank said achieving a 35 percent reduction in particulate pollution by 2035—the “35 by 35” target—was realistic with coordinated policy action, technological upgrades, and public participation. Satellite monitoring shows the Peshawar Valley as one of the most polluted basins in the province, posing serious health risks.
The meeting discussed multi-sectoral strategies involving transport, energy, industry, agriculture, urban planning and local governance. Key measures include cleaner fuels, vehicle emission standards, industrial compliance, waste management, and strengthened enforcement, institutional capacity, and modern monitoring infrastructure.
Secretary Junaid Khan reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to clean air initiatives, appointing the Special Secretary Climate Change as the focal person for coordination with the World Bank. MPA Ahmad Karim Kundi described air pollution as a critical environmental and public health challenge and stressed that clean air is a fundamental right.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to turn policy plans into practical actions, aiming for healthier, more resilient air for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
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