Environmental issues in Pakistan

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_Pakistan

Environmental issues in Pakistan include deforestation, air pollution, water pollution,

noise pollution, climate change, pesticide misuse, soil erosion, natural disasters and
desertification.[1] These are serious environmental problems that Pakistan is facing, and
they are getting worse as the country's economy expands and the population grows. Little is
being done to tackle these issues, because the goals of economic growth and tackling
terrorism within the country supersede the goals of environmental preservation. Although
NGOs and government departments have taken initiatives to stop environmental
degradation, Pakistan's environmental issues still remain.

The majority of Pakistan's industrial sectors, for example fishing and agriculture, which
count for more than one fourth of the output and two fifths of employment in Pakistan, [1]
are highly dependent on the country's natural resources. Hence in order to sustain
economic growth there is a high demand on already scarce natural resources. However it is
ironic that what the country depends on for its growth is also what threatens the future
welfare and success of the country. According to the World Bank,[2] 70% of Pakistan's
population live in rural areas and are already stricken by high poverty levels. These people
depend on natural resources to provide income and tend to overuse these resources. This
leads to further degradation of the environment and subsequently increases poverty. This
has led to what the World Bank refers to as a "vicious downward spiral of impoverishment
and environmental degradation." [2]

The World Bank report in 2013 stated that Pakistan's top

environmental issues include air pollution, inadequate
supply of uncontaminated drinking water, noise pollution
and the health deterioration of urban and rural
populations due to pollution. These environmental
concerns not only harm Pakistani citizens but also pose a
serious threat to the country's economy. The report also
Trash thrown in an empty plot in
stated that the increase in industrialization, urbanization
Karachi, Pakistan.
and motorization will inevitably worsen this problem. [3]

Main article: Water supply and sanitation in Pakistan

Pakistan is classified as a water stressed nation by the World Bank. There are seven main
rivers that enter Pakistan from upper riparian states, including the Kabul River that enters
from Afghanistan, and the Indus River, Jhelum River, Chenab River, Ravi River, and Sutlej
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River that enter from India. Among these the Ravi and Sutlej are diverted in upstream India,
for which consumptive use was awarded to India under the Indus Waters Treaty signed in
1960 by India and Pakistan. Canal networks from the Indus (main stem), Jhelum River, and
Chenab River supply water throughout the agricultural plains in Punjab and in Sindh, while
the rest of the country has very little access to other fresh water.[1] Potential scarcity of
water not only threatens Pakistan's economy but also poses a serious threat to the lives of
millions of Pakistanis.

Lower flows due to the Indus Waters Treaty, as well as diversion to canals, means that lower
dilution flows are available within the rivers of Pakistan. On the other hand, water pollution
generation is increasing largely due to the growing economy and population, and an almost
complete lack of water treatment. The sources for water pollution include the overuse of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the dumping of industrial effluent into lakes and rivers,
untreated sewage being dumped into rivers and the ocean, and contaminated pipelines
being used to transport water.[4] The contamination of fresh drinking water makes it harder
for people to find clean water supplies and increases the prevalence of waterborne
diseases. Consequently, most of the reported health problems in Pakistan are either a
direct or indirect result of polluted water.[5] 45% of infant deaths are due to diarrhea and
60% to overall waterborne diseases. [6]

The megacities of Pakistan, such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, face the
issue of noise pollution. The main source of this pollution is the traffic noise caused by
buses, cars, trucks, rickshaws and water tankers. A study showed that on one of Karachi's
main roads, the average noise level was around 90 dB and was capable of reaching about
110 dB. This is much higher than the ISO's noise level standard of 70 dB, which is not meant
to be harmful to the human ear. However, the study also concluded that in Pakistan, "the
traffic noise levels limit as laid down by National Environment Quality standards,
Environmental Protection Agency is 85 dB".[7]

This high level of noise pollution can cause auditory and non-auditory health issues.
Auditory issues include the loss of auditory sensory cells; non-auditory health issues include
sleep disturbance, noise and cardiovascular disease, endocrine response to noise and
psychiatric disorder.[8] There are very few, vague laws and policies in regards to noise levels.
There is no accountability, and while the federal and provincial environmental protection
agencies receive dozens of complaints on noise pollution from the public, these agencies
are unable to take action due to legal constraints and the absence of national noise level
standards.[9]

Air pollution is a growing environmental problem in most major cities of Pakistan. According
to a World Bank report, "Karachi's urban air pollution is among the most severe in the world
and it engenders significant damages to human health and the economy". The inefficient
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use of energy, an increase in the number of vehicles used daily, an increase in unregulated
industrial emissions and the burning of garbage and plastic have contributed the most to
air pollution in urban areas. According to a recent study, the Sindh Environment Protection
Department claims that the average level of pollution in big cities is approximately four
times higher than the World Health Organisation's limits. These emissions have detrimental
effects, including "respiratory diseases, reduced visibility, loss of vegetation and an effect on
the growth of plants."

One of the greatest contributors to air pollution is industrial activity. The inadequate air
emission treatments and lack of regulatory control over industrial activity has contributed
to the deterioration of ambient air quality in major cities. In addition, the common practice
of burning massive amounts of solid waste, including plastic and rubber, on street corners
by the public, releases toxic gases, which are extremely harmful for residents in the area.

In 2018, a young entrepreneur in Karachi, Abid Omar, launched the Pakistan Air Quality
Initiative to monitor air quality in Pakistan's big cities. The project aims to increase the
availability of air quality data in Pakistan and make citizens more aware of the health
impacts of air pollution.[10] The US State Department has set up three high-quality air quality
monitoring stations at three locations in Pakistan.[11]

Main article: Climate change in Pakistan

See also: Indus River § Effects of climate change on the river
Climate change has affected the people and the environment of Pakistan in different ways.
Although Pakistan is a relatively small emitter of greenhouse gas as compared to other
countries, the country will, however, be greatly affected by the negative impacts of climate
change. According to the Pakistan Economic Survey of 2014-15,[12] the "increase in
frequency and intensity of extreme weather events coupled with erratic monsoon rains
causing frequent and intense floods and droughts" are the most prominent problems
Pakistan will face due to climate change. The survey concluded that the change in weather
patterns has destroyed infrastructures, has taken many lives and has had devastating
impacts on the agriculture sector, which has in turn has affected Pakistan's economy.

According to the BBC Climate Asia report, [13] the majority of the Pakistani people surveyed
claimed that climate change has heavily impacted their lives in the form of floods and
droughts, and most importantly has affected the availability of resources such as energy
and water. 53% of Pakistanis felt that their lives had become worse off than they were five
years ago. Although the effects of climate change are evident, the survey found that the
majority of the people were unaware of the meaning of climate change, and "ascribed
changes in climate and extreme weather events to the will of God."[13]

Main article: List of natural disasters in Pakistan

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Due to Pakistan's diverse land and climatic conditions, it is prone to different forms of
natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, droughts, cyclones and
hurricanes.[1] A disaster management report claims that the provinces of Gilgit-Baltistan
(GB), Balochistan and AJK are vulnerable seismic regions and hence highly susceptible to
earthquakes, while Sindh and Punjab constantly suffer from floods because they are low-
lying areas.[14]

Some of the worst natural disasters that Pakistan has faced include the 1935 Quetta
earthquake when around 60,000 people were killed, the 1950 floods when an estimated
2900 people died and 900,000 people were left homeless, the 1974 Hunza earthquake
where around 5300 people were killed, the 2005 Kashmir quake that killed at least 73,000
and affected more than 1.5 million people, and the Pakistan floods of 2010 where 20 million
people were affected.[15]

Main article: Conservation in Pakistan

The government has expressed concern about environmental threats to economic growth
and social development and since the early 1990s has addressed environmental concerns
with new legislation and institutions such as the Pakistan Environment Protection Council.
However, foreign lenders provide most environmental protection funds, and only 0.04
percent of the government's development budget goes to environmental protection. Thus,
the government's ability to enforce environmental regulations is limited, and private
industries often lack the funds to meet environmental standards established by
international trade organizations. Government of Pakistan start new compagin with Clean
and Green Pakistan to over come environmental issues.

The Billion Tree Tsunami was launched in 2014, by the government of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, as a response to the challenge of global warming. Pakistan's
Billion Tree Tsunami restores 350,000 hectares of forests and degraded land to surpass its
Bonn Challenge commitment.[16] The project aimed at improving the ecosystems of
classified forests, as well as privately owned waste and farm lands, and therefore entails
working in close collaboration with concerned communities and stakeholders to ensure
their meaningful participation through effectuating project promotion and extension
services.[17] In just a year it has added three-quarters of a billion new trees, as part of a “tree
tsunami” aimed at reversing worsening forest loss.[18] The projected was completed in
August 2017, ahead of schedule.[19]

This remarkable initiative has been highly acknowledged by international media namely
Washington Post,[20] VOA News,[21] The Hindu, REUTERS,[22] AlJazeera[18] and many others.
Short fim like "Green Election Compagin" and " Stop " is a part of Cean Green Pakistan
Effort.

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The National Conservation Strategy Report has three explicit objectives: conservation of
natural resources, promotion of sustainable development, and improvement of efficiency in
the use and management of resources. It sees itself as a "call for action" addressed to
central and provincial governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
local communities, and individuals.

The primary agricultural nonpoint source pollutants are nutrients (particularly nitrogen and
phosphorus), sediment, animal wastes, pesticides, and salts. Agricultural nonpoint sources
enter surface water through direct surface runoff or through seepage to ground water that
discharges to a surface water outlet. Various farming activities result in the erosion of soil
particles. The sediment produced by erosion can damage fish habitat and wetlands, and
often transports excess agricultural chemicals resulting in contaminated runoff. This runoff,
in turn, affects changes to aquatic habitat such as temperature increases and decreased
oxygen. The most common sources of excess nutrients in surface water from nonpoint
sources are chemical fertilizers and manure from animal facilities. Such nutrients cause
eutrophication in surface water. Pesticides used for pest control in agricultural operations
can also contaminate surface as well as ground-water resources. Return flows, runoff, and
leach ate from irrigated lands may transport sediment, nutrients, salts, and other materials.
Finally, improper grazing practices in riparian areas, as well as upland areas, can also cause
water quality degradation. The development of Pakistan is viewed as a multigenerational
enterprise.

In seeking to transform attitudes and practices, the National Conservation Strategy

recognizes that two key changes in values are needed: the restoration of the conservation
ethic derived from Islamic moral values, called Qantas, and the revival of community spirit
and responsibility, Haqooq ul Ibad.

The National Conservation Strategy Report recommends fourteen program areas for
priority implementation: maintaining soils in croplands, increasing efficiency of irrigation,
protecting watersheds, supporting forestry and plantations, restoring rangelands and
improving livestock, protecting water bodies and sustaining fisheries, conserving
biodiversity, increasing energy efficiency, developing and deploying renewable resources,
preventing or decreasing pollution, managing urban wastes, supporting institutions to
manage common resources, integrating population and environmental programs, and
preserving the cultural heritage. It identifies sixty-eight specific programs in these areas,
each with a long-term goal and expected outputs and physical investments required within
ten years. Special attention has been paid to the potential roles of environmental NGOs,
women's organizations, and international NGOs in working with the government in its
conservation efforts. Recommendations from the National Conservation Strategy Report are
incorporated in the Eighth Five-Year Plan (1993–98).

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In a recent study conducted by the Global CLEAN campaign, it was found that the average
temperature in Pakistan had risen by .2 degrees in only two years, This is a dramatic change
and puts emphasis on climate change campaigns.

Land use

Arable land - 27%

Permanent crops - 1%
Permanent pastures - 6%
Forests and woodland - 5%
Other - 61% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land - 171,100 km² (1993 est.)

Main article: Protected areas of Pakistan

Pakistan has 14 national parks, 72 wildlife sanctuaries, 66 game reserves, 9 marine and
littoral protected areas, 19 protected wetlands and a number of other protected grasslands,
shrublands, woodlands and natural monuments.

Pakistan is a party to several international agreements related to environment and climate.

The most prominent among them are:

Treaties and agreements

Specific regions and seas Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution (MARPOL 73/78)

Atmosphere and climate Climate Change, Ozone Layer Protection, Nuclear Test Ban

Biodiversity, environment, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Wetlands,

Marine Life Conservation
and forests

Wastes Hazardous Wastes

Rivers Indus Waters Treaty

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