In 2025, Tajikistan faced unprecedented climate stress: 216 days were recorded when the air was saturated with dust, according to Bakhodur Sheralizoda, Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection, Avesta.tj reports.
According to official data, residents of the republic were exposed to dust storms for over 60% of the year.
In 2025, 63 dust storms were recorded (compared to 35 in 2024).
Each storm lasts several days.
The storms are caused by the transboundary transport of sand and dust by cyclones from the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East.
The head of the department paid particular attention to criticism of international monitoring systems, in particular IQAir, which included Tajikistan in the top 10 countries with the most polluted air.
Bakhodur Sheralizoda questioned the objectivity of such assessments, citing a conflict of interest:
"IQAir compiles ratings and simultaneously sells air quality monitoring equipment. I believe that a company engaged in commercial activities in this field cannot conduct an independent and objective audit," he stated.
According to the relevant committee, the data from Western organizations does not take into account the specifics of the region and the prevalence of natural dust over industrial emissions, which distorts the true picture of the environmental situation in Tajikistan.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
January 29, 2026