Smogistan: Understanding the Lethal Impact of PM2.5

PM2.5 pollution is a silent threat—especially dangerous because we cannot see it. In Pakistan, public concern about air quality peaks during winter smog, yet dangerously high levels of PM2.5 persist year-round, even in spring and summer when the skies seem clear. This talk explores why PM2.5 is so lethal: these ultra-fine particles bypass our body’s natural defenses, penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and reach vital organs—causing inflammation, heart disease, cognitive decline, and increased risk of stroke and dementia. Children and the elderly are especially vulnerable. If we cannot see it, can we still protect ourselves from it?

About the Speakers:

• As the founder of Stormatics, Umair Shahid leads a team of PostgreSQL experts delivering professional services through a signature methodology, honed over years of hands-on experience with critical production databases. Umair leverages reliable open-source as well as proprietary tooling in the PostgreSQL ecosystem to drive cost savings, improve performance, and ensure operational continuity.

  As a trusted expert in the global PostgreSQL community, Umair shares his expertise through talks at international conferences, live trainings, and webinars. He authors blogs that dive deep into the PostgreSQL technology and receive 10,000+ monthly visits.

• Dr. Taha Ali is Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the NUST School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (SEECS) in Islamabad. He has a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) followed by two postdocs, one from the Commonwealth Scientific Industrial Research Organization in Australia and the second from Newcastle University, UK. Dr. Taha has published numerous papers in elite conference venues and in Transactions-level journals. His work on cryptocurrencies has been impactful: in 2017, he introduced the Pakistan’s first dedicated MS course on cryptocurrencies and blockchain at NUST, which continues to run. Over the last few years, he has worked with various government ministries and committees to introduce secure election technologies in Pakistan and he has authored various policy reports and guidelines on this topic.

This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.

The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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