Mifrah Ali

Fellow leads research and development to combat air pollution
An environmentally focused research paper led by Pakistan’s 2020-2021 fellow Mifrah Ali was published in the May 2022 edition of the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute’s (MPDI) impact factor journal. The study, “Characterizing Air Pollution and Its Association with Emission Sources in Lahore: A Guide to Adaptation Action Plans to Control Pollution and Smog,” identifies low-cost means of monitoring air pollutants and reducing smog with remote sensing. Over a three-year period, Mifrah’s team at the University of Management & Technology in Lahore analyzed real-time remote sensor data on key emissions and pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and methane, at 14 key sites around the region. The study found that “air pollution remained ‘unhealthy for everyone’ for 54% of the time, and ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ for 88% of the time.” By tracking specific pollutant concentrations as well as identifying hot spots and hot times, the researchers hope their findings will catalyze the development of “smart adaptation action plans for immediate implementation.”
Being a mother of two children, Mifrah experienced firsthand the adverse consequences of smog on the immune system. She says, “I felt a dire need to tackle this issue and motivate my colleagues toward multi-disciplinary collaboration.” Mifrah aims to limit air pollution and the spread of communicable diseases by “developing relevant mitigation devices, techniques, and filters for homes, specific industries and automobiles.” In addition to serving as a full-time faculty member at the University of Management & Technology, Mifrah also leads the Research and Innovation team at the startup ENERTEC, where she develops environmentally friendly products and energy generation technologies. She welcomes multi-disciplinary collaboration with like-minded academics and professionals involved in the fight for clean and breathable air. ​