The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) officials said on Saturday that even as advances have been made in reducing air pollution, it remains is a concern. 

The levels of air pollution in Kabul has decreased compared to last year, but further still work needed to be done to reduce the health hazard, the NEPA said. 

The head of planning department at NEPA, Mohammad Kazim Humayun, said burning low-quality fuel during winter is the main reason for air pollution and that preventing low-quality fuel being burnt could decrease the pollution levels significantly. 

“Using coal as fuel is the most dangerous in the world. The way that coal is being used in Afghanistan is called ‘soft use’. In other countries, they purify the coal, separate its sulfur and heavy metals,” said Humayun. 

“Most of the air pollution is due to suspended particles in the air, especially in winter. When it is cold in the morning and evening, particles in the air get heavy and come down and infects people,” said NEPA technical deputy head Ghulam Mohammad Malikyar.  

Kabul residents have also complained of air pollution. A university student, Rukhsar, 25, said over the years Kabul’s beauty is being drowned in dust and smoke. 

Environment pollution has been a serious concern in the country and 44 criminal codes have been recently specified to define environmental crimes.

Based on these codes, if anyone leaves contaminated materials in water, soil or air that harm others physically or mentally, they will be considered environmental wrongdoers.