or many residents of Islamabad, winter was a period of respite before the allergy season began. The arrival of spring meant suffering from runny noses, cough and seasonal asthma. However, this year winter too became a season of allergies. The reason is the construction of the Metro Bus project which has left Islamabad engulfed in a cloud of dust.

Mrs Maqsood Ahmed, a resident of G-9/4 suffered from hay fever every spring but she never faced problems in the winter. This winter she has had difficulty breathing and is constantly coughing. The doctors tell her its dust allergy.

Living in close proximity to the construction site means the very air she is breathing is thick with dust.

Her husband, Maqsood Ahmed, has considered shifting the family to a commercial plaza he owns in Sector I-10. `Commercial plaza`s are no place for a family with daughters, we just keeping hoping the construction will finish soon but there is no end to our suffering,` he said.

Mr Ahmed said that the government and the contractors should stop playing politics and complete the project as soon as possible. `I have seen bigger projects completed in lesser time. If companies take their work seriously the Metro Bus project can be completed soon,` he said.

Maqsood Ahmed`s family is not the only one suffering immense difficulties because of the construction of the project.

Shaheen Iqbal, a resident of sector I-8/4 said that federal capital cannot be called `Islamabad the Beautiful` anymore because the Metro Bus project has taken away its serenity and beauty.

`Once our city was green and dust free but because of the Metro Bus project sectors I-8, I-9, G-8, G-9 have become polluted. Not only has the dust affected the health of residents but travel time has also been increased` he said.

He said his grandchildren are also constantly ill and the family has to make frequent trips to the doctor. `We sometimes buy homeopathic medicine because we are worried about the side effects of taking so many allopathic medicines, he said.

Mr Shaheen lamented that life in Sector I-8 has been severely affected by the Metro Bus Project. He said in I-8/4, in front of IJ Principal Road, the service road north has been broken and a drainage line has been dug. He said that the line is not covered and this is dangerous as pedestrians, especially children can easily fall inside it.

Muhammad Yasir drives by the Metro Bus construction site on a daily basis. He said breathing in the dust from the construction means he is suffering from upper respiratory problems. In addition to the frequent and expensive trips to the doctor, he is also spending more money on his car. `There is so much dust and pollution that motorcyclists find that the colours of their clothes have changed by the time they reach work. If you are wearing a white shirt for example, it would be a pale shade of brown by the time you reach your of fice,` he said.

He said he can roll up the windows of his car but has to have the air filter in his car changed and cleaned more frequently. `I used to take my car to the service station once in three weeks.

Now I have to go every week,` he said.

Mr Yasir said the project is dangerous for pedestrians as there have been reports of people falling into ditches and getting hurt.

He added that every two or three days contracts close a different road without putting up signs or informing people which means people have to look for diversions every time. `It is a huge waste of time trying to find ways to manoeuvre around the construction site,` he said.

He said he feels the project has suffered from lack of proper planning. `I still remember when the Zero Point Interchange was constructed.

People did not face as many problems even though Zero Point is much busier than Peshawar Mor,` he said.Media coordinator of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Dr Waseem Khawaja agreed that residents of the capital have been suffering because of the Metro Bus Project.

`A number of patients have arrived at the hospital with complaints of dust allergies.

Frequency of chest infections, flu, asthma, and cough has increased after the start of the citywide construction,` he said.

`People should wear masks while traveling near the project site. The management and contractors of the project should sprinkle water on dusty areas during construction work. People should also avoid going near the construction site and should select alternate routes for travel, whenever possible,` he said.

`Those who have cars should not open their windows when traveling near the site of project.

Children should be protected from dust because they are more frequently affected by respiratory problems,` he said.

Spokesman for Capital Development Authority (CDA) Asim Khichi while talking to Dawn said that contractors of the project have been advised to sprinkle water and use sheets during work.

`Moreover 1 per cent of the total cost of the project has been allocated for the environment. After completion of the project, not only tree plantation will be done but grass will also be planted on the green belts to prevent dust particles from being carried by the wind,` he said.

`CDA can assure the residents of the federal capital that they will get their `Islamabad the BeautifuP within a few months of the completion of project,` Mr Khichi claimed.