Air Pollution in Kabul: A Growing Concern for Residents

Air pollution in Kabul, which worsens with each passing day, has become a source of frustration for the city’s residents.

Kabul residents told that due to severe air pollution, they cannot easily move around the city and have urged the caretaker government to address this issue.

According to them, air pollution in the capital is “concerning.”

Mohammad Qaseem, a Kabul resident, said: “The air is polluted, and people cannot walk around outside.”

Amaruddin, another Kabul resident, stated: “Our request is that buildings install purifiers so that illnesses can be reduced.”

Officials from the National Environmental Protection Agency acknowledge the issue of air pollution in Kabul and other major cities and assure that efforts are underway to address the challenge using various methods.

Mohammad Basir Amin, Director of Pollution Analysis, said: “With the arrival of winter and due to Kabul’s geographical location, air pollution has increased significantly.”

On the other hand, Kabul Municipality has announced that it has deployed monitoring teams to control air pollution in the capital.

Nematullah Barakzai, a representative of Kabul Municipality, said: “Since the beginning of Qaws this year, Kabul Municipality has initiated nightly patrols to prevent air pollution. In accordance with the law, Kabul Municipality inspects all high-rise buildings and structures in the city to ensure they are equipped with active filters during operation.”

Meanwhile, some families, due to poverty and lack of access to electricity, resort to using non-standard and smoke-producing fuels during winter, which perpetuates the problem of air pollution in the capital.