ISLAMABAD • Like other big cities of Pakistan, federal capital city Islamabad is also faced with different civic problems, growing pollution taking the lead.

A steep rise in the number of vehicles over the past few years, factories working in violation of environmental laws, the unplanned growth of settlements and the government’s decision to fell more and more trees contribute to pollution in one way or the other.

Driven by banks” soft auto loan schemes, middle class families started a race to own vehicles. Consequently, the number of vehicles is currently estimated at over 400,000 in the city, whereas, in 1998 only 60,000 vehicles were registered.

“Islamabad the beautiful” has long been a catchphrase. But it is no longer so,” said Mehwish, a resident of the capital. Large-scale deforestation has ruined the beauty of the city, she said.

There is no proper system of solid waste treatment and uncovered drains run through the city, which cause it to smell bad, and also overflow during rains. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has identified 69 places where people throw their garbage, but there are countless other such informal dumps in the city.

While mismanagement of garbage certainly adds to environmental pollution, the city is fast losing its trees as well. Multiple development projects, the widening of roads and construction of underpasses are carried out at the cost of trees and this results in the concentration of harmful gases in the air.

Experts suggest an efficient mass transit system to solve the problems of public transport and reduce smoke emission in the atmosphere, but departments concerned are not convinced by this suggestion.

Environmentalists have reported that the concentration of lead in Islamabad’s air is three times higher than the level that is harmless for humans. Lead pollution, caused mainly by vehicles, affects blood, bones, soft tissue, kidneys, liver, the nervous system and blood forming organs.

Several studies indicate that children are more sensitive to lead. Researchers say there is enough evidence to suggest that in many cases, behavioural and developmental problems in children may be linked to exposure to chemicals like lead in the environment.