With pollution in Pakistan hitting record highs in recent years, citizens clutching air monitors and legal papers are taking the fight for clean air into their own hands. Using one of their air monitors, Paqi demonstrated that “the air quality was hazardous inside the courtroom,” Omar said. “They got alarmed and shut down some stations when the air pollution went up,” Omar said. Worried about their community in Islamabad, academics Umair Shahid and Taha Ali established the Curious Friends of Clean Air organization. “We need accessible public transport... we need to go towards sustainable development,” said Imran, who moved from Lahore to Islamabad in search of better air quality.

Source: Dhaka Tribune January 21, 2026 12:19 UTC