Section 144 Imposed in Islamabad to Combat Toxic Air Pollution

In response to hazardous air quality levels, Islamabad’s Additional District Magistrate has enforced Section 144 across the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) for two months, aiming to curb toxic emissions harming residents’ health.

This order restricts the release of pollutants from vehicles, factories, kilns, and the open burning of garbage and agricultural waste.

Section 144 was enacted after monitoring revealed concerning air quality in Islamabad. The ban primarily targets emissions from high-polluting vehicles and industries, as well as practices like waste burning, which contribute significantly to the city’s pollution levels.

The poor air quality particularly threatens children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions. As winter begins, dry weather often traps pollutants close to the ground, intensifying smog. With insufficient control over waste and crop burning alongside unchecked vehicular emissions, air pollution has become a pressing issue.

Authorities have warned of strict consequences for those defying the ban, with penalties for vehicles not adhering to emission standards, factories neglecting pollution control, and individuals caught burning waste or crops.