Snow-capped peaks used to be clearly visible from the streets of Almaty and Bishkek, two of the largest cities in Central Asia that both lie in plains surrounded by mountains.

But now a heavy cloud of dark smog often blots out the view as air pollution regularly soars to levels comparable to those in New Delhi and Lahore, even though Almaty and Bishkek have fewer people and industries than their Indian and Pakistani counterparts.

In the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek, a city of one million, and Kazakhstan's second city of Almaty, which is twice as large, the onset of winter prompts a surge in pollution as people burn coal and other dirty fuels in stoves to heat their homes.

Many locals use highly polluting stoves to heat their homes and boil water because they are not hooked up to mains gas. Large numbers of aging cars and trucks exacerbate the situation.  

In this area, readings of PM 2.5  - a measure of fine particles in the air - regularly reach levels that the United States Environmental Protection Agency defines as hazardous to human health. Residents here are often ill while some of them suffer from lung problems.

The bowl-shaped topography of both cities helps trap pollution. Even worse, both have coal-fired power stations and huge growth in the number of cars over the last two decades. 

With easier access to real-time air quality measurements online, pollution has become a talking point, particularly on social media. Residents in these areas are demanding authorities to put in action in reducing emissions and upgrading heating system.

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