The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) on Thursday warned that the air pollution in Kabul will increase by 50% over the next four months.

Ezatullah Sediqi, deputy head of the National Environment Protection Agency, said that if the management plan for reducing and preventing air pollution in Kabul is not properly acted on by the responsible authorities, air pollution will endanger people's lives in Kabul.

“If a person breathes 2 hours of air in which there are 150 particles in a million particles, that air is not a health problem, but if it goes up from 150 micrograms per cubic meter, the amount of these particles can be worrisome,” said Sediqi.

According to the National Environmental Protection Agency, the reduction of air pollution in Kabul depends on both the cooperation of the people and the government, because one of the main reasons for the production of smoke and dust is the common use of air-polluting fuels.

The burning of coal in iron smelting plants and brick-and-mortar factories is one of the main sources of air pollution in Kabul, the agency said.

The agency says the burning of these substances in Kabul is very dangerous for residents. Particles suspended in the air could lead to heart attacks, cancer and other diseases for citizens.

A number of citizens in the country say that the increasing air pollution has made them susceptible to various diseases.

“Most visits to the doctor are due to air pollution. When we go to the doctor, he tells us not to go out, but if we do not go out, how do we work and find bread?” said Naworoz, a resident of Kabul.

“The government should not allow illegal fuel materials to be used in Kabul,” said Hassan, another resident of Kabul.