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Seven fixed, three Mobile AAQMS established to monitor Ambient Air
February 21, 2018

ISLAMABAD: Seven fixed and three mobile Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AAQMS) have been established under “Environmental Monitoring System (EMS)” project in cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency in the country.

Under the project, one fixed station had been established in Islamabad, Peshawar and Quetta each, while two in Lahore and Karachi, said an official of Ministry of Climate Change while taking to APP.

Ambient air quality criteria or standards are concentrations of pollutants in the air usually outdoor air but sometimes indoor air specified for a variety of reasons including for the protection of human health, buildings, crops, vegetation, ecosystems, as well as for planning and other purposesIn addition, he said that three mobile stations, one each in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi were also established.

“All these stations are equipped with state of the art technology to monitor ambient air round the clock,” he added.

To a question he said, after the passage of 17 and 18th amendments, he said the project was devolved to the provinces, who made their PC-Is and started project on provincial level with required staff.

After the amendment, Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency is mandated with its function under Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, for protection, conservation and rehabilitation of environment in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

During last five years, Pak-EPA has been conducting survey or sampling on need basis to assess the air quality in ambient air particularly during winter, he added.

The official said “Air Quality Monitoring System (AQMS) at Pak-EPA is fully functional for ambient air quality monitoring after 5 year