KP Targeted by Air Pollution: MNA Shaista Khan’s Plea in National Assembly Committee, “Save Us”
ŁWith every passing day and every passing moment, air pollution is becoming a deadly menace for living beings, caused by none other than humans themselves. If there are no trees, no greenery, and no clean environment, we are breathing polluted air into our lungs with each step we take. Just as smoking is harmful to health, polluted air is even more dangerous.
I used to think that pollution was only a problem in cities like Karachi, Lahore, or Rawalpindi. But no, even the hidden places in the mountains are not safe from it. We all visit Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, enjoy its breathtaking beauty, and immerse ourselves in its scenery, thinking how pure the environment is and how lucky the residents are. But believe me, I was shocked to hear that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also a victim of air pollution.
The once fresh air is now tainted with dust, and this came to light during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Climate Change Committee when MNA Shaista Khan from Hazara, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, passionately raised the issue of her area’s environmental degradation. She repeatedly emphasized that her region is being affected by increasing air pollution, particularly in the tourist areas of Griton and Suraj Gali in Haripur, where stone crushing activities are taking place. In Thandiani, where many tourists go, roads are being built for their convenience. In the areas of Ghamama and Ochar, crushing plants are operating along the roads, and explosions are carried out to build roads, causing cracks in homes. The stone crushing is also contaminating the natural springs, covering plants in dust, and causing illness among children and adults alike, but no one is stopping this harmful activity.
Shaista Khan also claimed that when any authority takes action, extortion occurs. Bribes are taken to reopen sealed plants, and stone crushing resumes. She further claimed that the local Deputy Commissioner and some government officials are involved.
MNA Shaista Khan lamented that the health of the local people is deteriorating, but no one is paying attention. She shared with a heavy heart that her father’s lungs were affected by this very stone crushing, as she has his X-rays, and he passed away in 2020. She complained to the committee that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, does not have time to address environmental issues as he is busy with political rallies. Meanwhile, his brother, a member of the National Assembly and the representative for environmental issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, does not even attend committee meetings. Shaista Khan demanded that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa officials be summoned to the committee to answer for these issues. However, sadly, while MNA Shaista Parvez was passionately fighting for her area in the committee meeting, many members were disinterested and chatting among themselves, while the chairperson was busy noting down important instructions.
Attention to the current environmental issues in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is urgently needed. In a previous committee meeting, MNA Sibtullah raised concerns about Kumrat, and now this issue of air pollution has surfaced. From these matters brought up in the committee, it is clear that the MNAs from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are serious about their environmental concerns and are worried about protecting their people and regions from environmental and climate issues. However, the government appears indifferent because if the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government were serious, these matters would have been addressed at the provincial level as well.
On the other hand, when we think about roads in tourist areas, is it really necessary to cut through mountains to build them? Tourists can enjoy hiking and the pure environment without roads. Building roads will lead to an influx of vehicles, harm wildlife, and affect the air quality. Still, we hope that if not in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, at least the federal government will take steps to save Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
