PESHAWAR: A mess of suffocating air pollution mostly caused by an unchecked marble and bricks kils factories, resulted in a serious health threat to residents of Peshawar and residents have demanded the government to shift these factories out of the capital city.
The residents of Warsak Road complain over the marble factories in the area that presence of these factories are not only a threat to the locals but the workers of these factories as well who usually work in these without safety measures, thus exposing themselves to serious ailments including the fatal chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.
They stated that the air pollution could be seen even with a naked eyes while going from Warsak Road to Michani Mohmand tribal district from where large marble slaps are being transported to these marble factories mostly operating without recycling operates.
According to a local resident Farhat Ameen the air pollution has been manifold in the area due to establishment of unplanned marble factories in last few years that required a proper check by the relevant government departments including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
It is worth noting that about 400 marble and granite factories are currently functioning along both sides of Warsak Road.
Repercussions of Air Pollution
Commenting on the consequences of such factories in residential areas, Senior Chest and medical specialist Dr Riaz Khan said that presence of such factories might let led to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that could prove fatal.
He further said that COPD was a common lung disease, which restricted airflow by causing severe breathing problems of a patient due to air and household pollution.
Meanwhile, scores of brick kilns operating in the suburbs of the provincial capital is another dilemma for the resident of the city.
The locals and health experts called upon the media and civil society activists to raise awareness among masses against air pollution and fatal disease.
They also demanded the government to come up with immediate arrangements to shift the marble factories to Mohmand Marble City and replaced the brick kiln factories far away from the residents areas.
