Calls for pedestrian-only city centers to combat pollution

ERBIL, December 20 — The head of the Kurdistan Region’s environment agency is calling for a ban on vehicular traffic in city centers in an effort to improve air quality, reduce overall pollution, and promote pedestrian mobility.

Abdulrahman Siddiq, who leads the Kurdistan Region’s Environmental Protection Board, told 964 that authorities should implement a ban on driving cars, transforming major city centers in the region to pedestrian-only zones.

Emphasizing the potential for a cleaner environment and safer walking conditions, he emphasized that reducing the number of cars would foster stronger social bonds among citizens.

Despite Siddiq’s proposal, no formal request has been submitted to the regional government.