Officials at the National Environment Protection Authority (NEPA) said on Saturday that a plan is underway to reduce the level of pollution in Kabul.

Last Thursday President Ghani ordered officials of the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) and the Air Protection Commission to take serious steps to address the air pollution within 10 days.

Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Presidential Palace, said: “The president gave a 10-day deadline to the commission to make a plan to reduce the air pollution.”

Shah Zaman Maiwandi, head of NEPA, said that the plan will investigate new causes of pollution.

“We are investigating five townships in Kabul city, investigating bathhouses, investigating sand processing plants and investigating brick-making kilns… limiting the use of coal is the solution to the pollution.” Said Maiwandi.

Ezatullah Sediqi, the deputy head of NEPA confirmed that the situation in Kabul city is serious.

“349 cases in Kabul city are under investigation and will be controlled,” said Sediqi

NEPA said earlier that air pollution has increased many times beyond its safe level.

Residents of Kabul city are also concerned about the pollution and say that the air outdoors is causing them to become ill.

Fahim, a Kabul resident said: “It’s 6:00 at night in Kabul city and walking now is impossible.”

“The weather is very polluted, and I also have a throat ache,” said Hasibullah, another Kabul resident.

NEPA added that the burning of imported low quality materials, and sand processing plants, are the main reasons for the air pollution, which increases in winter.