Indira Gandhi Children's Hospital (IGCH) officials say that due to the worsening air pollution during winter, over 300 patients come to the hospital with respiratory diseases daily. 

Using low-quality fuels for warming houses in some towns and big buildings in Kabul is one of the main causes of polluted air. 

Hospital officials say most of the patients are children.

“Of the 1,000 patients that come here daily, 30 to 35 percent have respiratory diseases,” the head of IGCH, Noor-ul-haq Yusufzai, said. 

Family members of the patients said air pollution has increased respiratory diseases, especially among the children. This is not only a problem in Kabul but also in other provinces. 

“People should not burn waste such as old boots and clothes because it causes respiratory diseases for the children,” Masoma, a resident of Kabul said. 

“Kunduz has very polluted weather and the war has increased the problem,” Samiullah, a resident of Kunduz said. 

Kabul municipality has meanwhile said it has prohibited construction of a number of towns because they do not have standard heaters and canalization systems. 

“Violation in construction is very high in Kabul. We had some efforts to stop these violations and finally we stopped most of the constructions,” Kabul acting mayor, Abdullah Habibzai said. 

The head of planning department at the National Environmental Protection Agency, Mohammad Kazim Humayun, said burning low-quality fuel during winter is the main reason for air pollution. Preventing low-quality fuel being burnt could decrease pollution levels significantly. 

“The coal has heavy metals and radioactive materials. It means these kinds of fuel need special measures that should be managed seriously,” said Humayun. 

Kabul municipality has proposed a range of solutions to air pollution to the government which includes changes in regulations and standardizing constructions.