Saddia Mazhar,
Singapore: Saturday the 14th September 2019 morning was an unusual start of day with hazy atmosphere. It was something new for me as I witness this haze in Singapore. I was worrying for me to see in one of the most environmental friendly country on Planet .It reminded me of the Increasing Smog in Pakistan due to which people has been suffering a lot since last few last years ,it caused some eye infections ,breathlessness and some other allergies leading to serious lifelong consequences.
Ms Soffia, a working woman here in Singapore, remembering haze effects when it hit last year. She told me that when she returned home, she found herself breathless and itching in her eyes because she was not wearing mask. But after going through a hard experience now she is careful and takes every precautionary measure for herself and even for her children.
The First question came in my mind was “What is haze and why in Singapore?” Haze is an air-borne mixture of pollutants that includes soot particles, carbon dioxide and other toxic gases.
Haze pollution affects several Southeast Asian countries on a regular basis, notably Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, and to a lesser extent Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. The condition is largely caused by the burning of large tracts of forested land in Indonesia. The haze usually occurs during the southwest monsoon season between June and September, and becomes more severe during periods of dry weather.(National library Board,Singapore)
In 2013 it was the first time when people witness Haze and the since then it has become yearly interval of their lives . That year Southeast Asian haze was notable for causing record high levels of pollution in Singapore and several parts of Malaysia. The 3-hour Pollution Standards Index in Singapore reached a record high of 401 on 21 June 2013, surpassing the previous record of 226 set during the 1997 Southeast Asian Haze.
“Air quality of Singapore took a sharp turn for the worse on Saturday (Sept 14,2019), with the(pollutant standards Index) PSI reading crossing the unhealthy level for the first time in three years”. It was reported By “The Straits Times”(National News Paper ,Singapore)
The 24-hour PSI readings ranged between 96 and 114 at 11pm, with the highest recorded reading in western Singapore.
It was predicted in August the 4th 2019 when The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that there is a possibility that Singapore could experience “slightly hazy conditions” over the next few days or weeks to come.
The haze will likely hit Singapore this week if there is further escalation of hotspot activities in Sumatra and if the wind direction changes to blow from the southwest, NEA added.
Over the next few days, dry conditions are expected to persist over Sumatra, with prevailing winds in the region forecast to continue blowing from the southeast or south.
For Monday, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading is expected to fall within the Good to Moderate range, while the one-hour PM2.5 concentration is expected to be in Band 1, which is the normal range, according to NEA .
Interesting thing is as haze hits Singapore all institutions start posting and giving health measures to their citizens. Ministry of Man Power is giving advisory about haze effects on health.
When I compare Pakistan and Singapore as how they have handing the increasing phenomenon of Pollution, I can now proudly say that the Government and nongovernmental organizations in Pakistan are effectively working to overcome this evil. Billion tree Tsunami Campaign in Khyber Pakhtoon Khua Province has been recognized by the World. As many as one Billion Trees were planted. The prime Minter of Pakistan ,Imran Khan has clear Vision for the pollution free and green Pakistan for his vision 2030.Further more the government has introduced strict laws and plenty against the people / Brick Kiln / industries which are cause of increasing smoke. As a result of stick laws and awareness among the society, less smog was observed in the last season i-e December 2018 to February 2019.
Now is the time we being humans should think across the borders jointly to help each other in developing infrastructure which helps in providing alternatives to industries ,minimizing carbon emission to have healthier, Green and safe world to live with purity and serve humanity.
