Islamabad was long seen as an exception among Pakistan’s major cities. Planned, green and ringed by hills, the capital built a reputation for cleaner air and calmer streets. This winter, that image has begun to fade.
A grey-brown haze now hangs over the city on many mornings, dulling the skyline and limiting visibility. Residents say the air often feels heavy and sharp before midday, a sensation once associated with industrial cities hundreds of kilometres away. Smog, previously concentrated in Punjab’s urban belt including Lahore, Gujranwala, Kasur and Sialkot, has become a regular feature of life in the federal capital.
The shift has caught many residents off guard. Foggy conditions and poor air quality were once rare in Islamabad. Now, they are being reported across multiple neighbourhoods, from central sectors to surrounding areas such as DHA Phase 5, Gangal West, Murree Road and Ayub Park.
Air quality data reflects what residents are experiencing. The Air Quality Index has repeatedly crossed 200, a level considered unhealthy. Medical professionals report an increase in patients complaining of eye irritation, sore throats, and skin and nasal allergies, particularly during prolonged smog episodes.
Experts are of the view that much of the pollution affecting Islamabad and Rawalpindi is generated locally. Vehicles are the dominant source, accounting for more than half of harmful emissions. Over the past decade, the number of cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles on the roads has grown rapidly. Many are poorly maintained, releasing smoke and fine particles into the air.
Less visible but equally damaging are emissions from tyre and brake wear. These microscopic particles remain airborne for long periods, especially during winter. Cold temperatures keep pollutants trapped near the ground, while the Margalla Hills limit air circulation, allowing smog to settle over the city rather than disperse.
Authorities have stepped up inspections of smoke-emitting vehicles, but environmental specialists argue that enforcement alone will not be enough. The widespread use of private cars, even for short trips, plays a significant role. Daily school drop-offs by car, repeated across thousands of households, create concentrated pollution zones around educational institutions during peak hours.
Traffic congestion outside schools in Islamabad’s F and G sectors illustrates the broader impact. On days with heavy smog, residents describe feeling fatigued and unfocused, with the persistent haze affecting both mood and productivity. The cost of pollution, experts warn, is not limited to health care. It also quietly erodes economic output.
Seasonal factors further complicate the situation. Islamabad records some of the highest pollen counts in the world during spring. When pollen season follows months of winter smog, residents face overlapping respiratory stresses. Airways already inflamed by prolonged exposure to fine particles become more reactive, worsening breathing problems.
Urban planners and environmental analysts say Islamabad could learn from cities such as Beijing and New York, where long-term improvements came through public awareness campaigns, detailed air monitoring and sustained policy enforcement. Both cities relied on data to shape interventions and adjust them over time.
For Islamabad, the challenge is no longer abstract. The smog has arrived, and with it a test of whether the capital can act decisively to protect the air its residents once took for granted.
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