In Bishkek, 426 thousand 946 vehicles are registered, of which 333 thousand 801 have been in operation for more than 15 years. According to the city administration, there are over 750 thousand vehicles in the capital daily, while the roads can only accommodate about 350 thousand.
“These data indicate that a significant portion of the vehicle fleet does not meet modern environmental standards. This is compounded by overloaded transport infrastructure, low fuel quality, and a lack of alternatives to personal transport. As a result, air pollution has become a systemic problem that requires a comprehensive approach,” emphasized Mashiev.
The minister also noted that air pollution is one of the most serious environmental and social issues in Kyrgyzstan.
“In particular, according to monitoring data in Bishkek, the level of fine particulate matter PM2.5 exceeds permissible international standards during certain periods, which negatively affects public health, especially children, the elderly, and those suffering from chronic diseases,” the minister added.
The head of the Ministry of Natural Resources noted that while earlier the focus was on air pollution during the heating season, recent studies, including air quality analysis in Bishkek by the World Bank and UNEP assessment, have shown that transport contributes significantly to air pollution in both summer and winter months. In the cold season, its impact is exacerbated by poor air circulation and increased emissions in the lower layers of the atmosphere.
