P-ISSN 2664-0422 Pakistan Social Sciences Review Oct-Dec 2023, Vol. 7, No.

4
O-ISSN 2664-0430 https://doi.org/10.35484/pssr.2023(7-IV)58 [653-663]

RESEARCH PAPER
Impacts of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor on the Natural
Environment of Pakistan
1 Tayyaba Zainab Ali*, and 2Dr. Muhammad Usman Askari
1. MPhil IR Scholar, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of
Central Punjab, Lahore
2. Associate Professor, Department of Political Science and International Relations, University of
the Central Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
*Corresponding Author: [email protected]
Abstract
This study aims to explore environmental risks imposed by the developmental projects
of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (pinyin: Zhōng bā jīngjì zǒuláng). CPEC is
helping Pakistan with energy, economic, and infrastructural development and it is also
highly addressing the damage to the natural environment. The natural environment has
immense importance for the growth and stability of a country. It is further attached to
fundamental elements such as biodiversity, acid rain, glaciers, thunderstorms,
agriculture, ecosystems, water resources, and tourism. Although climate change is a
global phenomenon, and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor works as a catalyst to
address climatic concerns in Pakistan. Through the energy projects of CPEC tons of CO2
are emitted daily which is considered a major cause of ozone depletion according to the
global index. Pakistan has witnessed heavy flooding, heat waves, increasing temperature,
a decline in biodiversity, and glacier melting for a decade. Economic development at the
cost of environmental loss is not suitable for it. Securing the natural environment and
natural resources should be the major concern of Pakistan.

Key Words CPEC Climate Change Natural Environment Environmental Sustainability

Introduction
Climate change is a global phenomenon that rapidly occurs in the world. Pakistan
has been at a high risk of climate change for the past decades. Pakistan is experiencing
extreme weather and increasing temperatures that cause melting of Himalayan glaciers.
It is alarming for the whole region. Pakistan ranks in the top 10 countries vulnerable to
climate change. As compared to the vulnerabilities, mitigations, and adaptation are very
low in Pakistan. It is a long-term shift in the temperature and weather patterns. In very
few cases, climate change occurs naturally but it is the result of human activities. A major
cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing heat levels up
greenhouse gas levels (carbon dioxide and methane), these gases trap the sun’s rays and
increase the temperature which is the main contributor to Climate Change. Burning of
oil, coal, and gasses in huge amount also cause climate change. (Anjum, et al., 2021)

CPEC continuously promotes potential threats to the natural environment.

Infrastructural development is a major threat to biodiversity and environmental
sustainability. Glacier melting, heavy flooding, and deforestation, all are the result of
environmental degradation. Pakistan has big reservoirs of glaciers. The mountain range
of northern Pakistan is known as the house of glaciers. It hosts almost 5000 glaciers. The
newly emerged projects of CPEC cause climate change which further creates an alarming
situation for glaciers melting. Glaciers are the main source of river water. Heavy floods
are direct results of melting glaciers. (Ali, Sajjad, & Haleem, 2021)
 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) October-December 2023, Vol. 7, No. 4

Some of the CPEC projects impose environmental risks and effects which further
enhance climate change Some of the energy projects of CPEC are coal-based that are
considered harmful to the environment and public health. There is a need for time to
explore environmental risks that are directly or indirectly connected with CPEC and its
coal projects. The destruction of the environment causes natural disasters like flooding,
earthquakes, blizzards, and tsunamis. Several studies have shown that CPEC power and
coal projects are the cause of damage to the water, air, and biodiversity of Pakistan
because due to CPEC deforestation is happening rapidly. (kakar, Shabbir, & Mustafa,
2021)

Literature Review

Climate change harshly impacts the natural environment of the local region. First,
it causes temperature and weather changes. When surface temperature is rising extreme
weather events take place. These changes disturb the environment and human lives
badly. A severe heat wave was recorded in Pakistan and India in 2022 that raised the
temperature to 51. These heat waves are supposed to occur after every 312 years but now
it is said that these waves will come after every three years which is very alarming for
nature. These heat waves would be more severe and recorded frequently. Pakistan
experiences heavy monsoons and annual rains which cause damage and loss. Climate
change is a global catastrophe but Pakistan experiencing rising temperatures more than
the global average. Rising temperature is more experiencing in the northern sides of
Pakistan as compared to the south. The frequency of hot days and hot nights also
increased. (Iqbal, 2020)

To some extent, CPEC is a proven beneficiary from a socioeconomic perspective.

It works effectively to meet the energy crises of Pakistan both at the industrial and
domestic levels. To some extent, it boosts the agriculture of Pakistan with the help of new
technologies, instruments, and tools. FPCCI being an optimist inserts the agriculture
department in CPEC. Agriculture development is directly proportional to infrastructure
and technological development. There is a strong relationship between infrastructure,
agriculture, and technological development. Infrastructure development plays a vital
role in the uplift of agriculture in Pakistan.

Due to rapid climate change and developmental projects of CPEC especially Coal-
based projects Pakistan is in a worse environmental crisis. Due to the substantial use of
fossil fuels to produce energy, a remarkable increase occurs in greenhouse gas (Co2 &
NH4) emissions. These are the main contributors to water and air pollution. GHS
emissions increase the local surface temperature of Pakistan more than the average global
rise. Due to these irregular environmental changes, Pakistan experiencing polar ice
melting, glacier melting, water pollution, air pollution, natural environmental
challenges, and a decline in biodiversity. It also affects the economic health and GDP of
Pakistan. CPEC is a core contributor to the degradation of the natural environment.
(Kanwal, et al., 2022)

Pakistan is situated in semi aired to the hyper-aired region which is why its
vulnerability to climate change is higher than other third-world countries. Pakistan has
to face 3.8 billion dollars economic loss due to climate change and China is the driver of
climate change, due to its BRI and CPEC. Many studies have shown that the region near
CPEC is highly susceptible and vulnerable to climate change, erosion, and water
shortage. Flooding is also the result of climate change which highly affects human beings
as well as animals. Due to climate change, our, forests are not safe. The destruction of
forests happens rapidly. The assessment shows that due to coal projects of CPEC
ecological vulnerability increases day by day. Based on past studies of ecological
vulnerability, a new ecological vulnerability index model is introduced to elaborate the
654
 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) October-December 2023, Vol. 7, No. 4

geographic component data and temporal features of ecological vulnerability. According

to the climate index, Pakistan ranks 8th number in the top ten states and CPEC further
upgrades its ranks in the global climate index. Environmental degradation mostly occurs
in the host regions of CPEC. These regions are experiencing high temperatures and high
potential evaporation that surpasses precipitation. The region faces extensive
deforestation. In southern parts of Pakistan, salinization is also affected due to high
evaporation and specific topographic features. Furthermore, soil erosion is also a
dominant ecological problem and human activities. (Wu, et al., 2021)

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a large-scale infrastructure

project that aims to enhance connectivity and promote economic cooperation between
China and Pakistan. Primarily the focus of CPEC is to improve transportation networks,
energy infrastructure, and industrial development.

The construction of new roads, power plants, and industrial zones under CPEC
has the potential to increase greenhouse gas emissions. Industrial activities, especially in
the energy and manufacturing sectors contribute to higher levels of carbon dioxide (CO2)
emissions. CPEC involves the development of several coal-fired power plants in Pakistan
to address the country's energy needs. Coal is a significant contributor to CO2 emissions
and air pollution, which adversely impact climate change and public health.
Infrastructure projects, including roads, power lines, and industrial zones, often require
clearing land, which can lead to deforestation and habitat loss. Deforestation contributes
to climate change as forests serve as carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere.
The loss of habitats can also disrupt ecosystems and affect biodiversity, further
exacerbating environmental challenges. (Ali, Khayyyam, & Nazar, 2021)

Coal, Carbon Emission, & CPEC

Coal reservoirs in Thar have a huge capacity for power production. More than
half of the CPEC projects are coal-based. Coal combustion is a direct contributor to
increased temperature and climate change Infrastructural projects of CPEC release 36.5
million tons of CO2 which is a severe contributor to air pollution and environmental
degradation of host communities. The combustion of coal for energy generation has
significant environmental impacts. (Ali S. , 2020)

Burning coal releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and greenhouse gas contributing to
climate change and global warming. The combustion of coal is a major source of CO2
emissions, which can lead to the intensification of the greenhouse effect and contribute
to a rise in temperature. Coal combustion releases various pollutants into the air,
including sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and
mercury. These pollutants have detrimental effects on air quality and human health. SO2
and NOx can cause respiratory issues, smog formation, and acid rain. Particulate matter
leads to respiratory, and cardiovascular problems, and mercury emissions can
bioaccumulate in ecosystems posing risks to wildlife. Coal combustion produces ash as
a byproduct, known as coal ash or fly ash. Proper disposal of coal ash is crucial to prevent
contamination of water bodies and soil. If it is not managed effectively, coal ash will leach
toxic substances such as heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, and mercury, into the
environment, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems and human health. (Iqbal, 2020)

655
 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) October-December 2023, Vol. 7, No. 4

Figure 1 level of CO2 emission

Coal-fired power plants require significant amounts of water for cooling

purposes. The withdrawal of large volumes of water from rivers or other water sources
also has negative impacts on aquatic ecosystems, particularly during periods of low flow.
Additionally, the discharge of heated water back into water bodies affects water
temperature and alters aquatic habitats. Furthermore, inadequate management of coal
ash disposal contaminates water bodies, leading to water pollution. Coal mining leads to
deforestation, habitat destruction, and soil erosion. It also contributes to water pollution
through the discharge of mine wastewater, which may contain heavy metals and other
contaminants. (Ullah, 2022)

Coal projects often require substantial amounts of water for their operations,
which strains local water resources, particularly in water-scarce regions. The extraction
and consumption of water for cooling purposes reduced water availability for
agriculture, domestic use, and ecosystem maintenance. The discharge of untreated
wastewater from coal plants contaminates water sources, further jeopardizing the health
and livelihoods of host communities. Coal-based power plants are notorious for their
contribution to air pollution. The combustion of coal releases harmful pollutants,
including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter. Host communities
living in proximity to coal plants are at increased risk of respiratory problems,
cardiovascular diseases, and other health issues. The emission of pollutants affects
agricultural productivity and livestock. The extraction, transportation, and burning of
coal contribute to global warming, which adversely affects the environment and host
communities' livelihoods. Climate change impacts, such as erratic weather patterns,
glacial melting, and water scarcity, can further exacerbate the vulnerability of these
communities, which rely heavily on natural resources for their survival. (Afaqi & Askari,
2022)

This GHG emission directly or indirectly causes the following environmental

curse in Pakistan.

• Heavy Precipitation
• Heat Waves
• Tropical Cyclones
• Droughts
• Heavy Floods
• Typhoons
• Extreme Weather Events
• Heavy Rainfall
656
 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) October-December 2023, Vol. 7, No. 4

• Polar Ice Melting

• Glacier Melting
• Rise in Sea Level
• Decrease in Water Resources
• Agriculture damages
• Stress to the Ecosystem
• Decline in Biodiversity
• Record Breaking Warmth
• Catastrophic Storms
• Severe Fires

Environmental Attributes

Pakistan is a country with diverse natural environmental attributes that

encompass various landscapes and ecosystems. Here are some notable features:

Mountains Pakistan is home to the Mountain ranges of Himalaya, Karakoram,

and Hindu Khush. K2 the world’s second largest mountain is located in Pakistan. These
mountains have breathtaking scenery, glacial rivers, and huge freshwater resources.

Glaciers Pakistan has some of the world’s largest glaciers. Glaciers such as
Siachen, Biafo, and Baltoro are major sources of freshwater, rivers that sustain agriculture
and human settlements downstream.

Rivers The country is traversed by several major rivers, including the Indus,
Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej. These rivers support irrigation for agriculture, and
hydropower generation, and serve as important habitats for aquatic life.

Coastal Areas Pakistan has a coastline along the Arabian Sea, stretching over
1,000 kilometers. The coastal areas, such as the Mkran Coastal Range, provide diverse
marine ecosystems, mangrove forests, and nesting grounds for various marine species.

Deserts The Thar Desert, located in the southeastern part of the country, spans
across both Pakistan and India. It is the world's seventeenth-largest desert and is
characterized by arid landscapes, dunes, and unique flora and fauna adapted to desert
conditions.

Forests Pakistan has various forests, including the coniferous forests of the
northern areas and the mangrove forests along the coast. These forests support
biodiversity, provide habitats for wildlife, and contribute to carbon sequestration.

Wetlands Pakistan has several wetlands of international importance, such as the

Indus Delta, Hangul Wetlands, and Kartar National Park. These wetlands serve as crucial
habitats for migratory birds, provide breeding grounds for fish, and support local
ecosystems. (Shabbir, Omer, & Jurgen, 2022)

CPEC and Biodiversity

Infrastructural projects fragment landscapes and disrupt ecological connectivity.

It hinders the movement and dispersal of wildlife, affecting their ability to access
resources, find mates, and maintain genetic diversity. Fragmentation also increased the
risk of local extinctions and reduced the resilience of ecosystems. Industrial activities and
increased human settlements associated with CPEC contribute to pollution and
degradation of water bodies. The discharge of industrial effluents, improper waste
management, and sedimentation harms aquatic ecosystems and impacts fish populations
657
 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) October-December 2023, Vol. 7, No. 4

and other aquatic organisms. The development of infrastructure and increased

transportation networks facilitate the introduction and spread of invasive species.
Invasive species outcompete native species for resources, disrupt natural ecosystems,
and pose a threat to biodiversity. (Lashari, et al.,2020)

Air Pollution

CPEC involves the establishment of power plants, manufacturing units, and

industrial zones. These industrial activities release pollutants into the air, including
sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), and volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). Emissions from coal-fired power plants are a significant
source of air pollution. It includes the construction of new roads, highways, and
transportation infrastructure. This leads to increased vehicular traffic, especially from
heavy-duty trucks and machinery associated with the project. Vehicle emissions, such as
carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and PM, contribute to air pollution. Dust
and Construction Activities, Excavation, demolition, and earth-moving activities can
result in the release of fine particles into the air, leading to localized air pollution. Dust
can also be generated during the transportation of construction materials and from
unpaved roads. Energy Generation from Fossil Fuels: CPEC includes the development
of coal-fired power plants to meet Pakistan's energy demands. Coal combustion releases
pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and fine particulate matter, which
contribute to air pollution and have adverse health effects. (Anjum, et al., 2021)

The ambitious infrastructure initiative has raised concerns about its

environmental impact, particularly in the picturesque region of Gilgit-Baltistan. This
study aims to explore how CPEC poses significant threats to the natural environment of
specific areas of Pakistan that hosted CPEC like Gilgit-Baltistan and how to protect
hosted areas from environmental hazards. Gilgit-Baltistan is home to diverse ecosystems
and ancient forests, which are being indiscriminately cleared for the development of
infrastructure projects. Deforestation leads to the loss of wildlife habitats, erosion, soil
degradation, and a decline in biodiversity. (Ullah H. Q., 2022)

CPEC involves the construction of numerous dams and hydropower projects

along the Indus River and its tributaries. These projects often require diverting river
courses and flooding large areas, resulting in the destruction of critical wildlife habitats.
The damming of rivers disrupts fish migration patterns, impacting the local fish
populations and the communities that rely on them. Additionally, the alteration of river
flows affects the aquatic ecosystems and their delicate balance. CPEC's massive
construction projects, including roads, tunnels, and pipelines, disrupt the delicate
ecological balance of Gilgit-Baltistan. The fragmentation of natural habitats isolates
wildlife populations, restricts their movement, and disrupts ecological processes such as
pollination and seed dispersal. (Asif & Ling, 2019)

Sahiwal

Energy and Infrastructural projects of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

work in different areas of Pakistan. In the construction of the Sahiwal Coal Power Plant,
the Chinese experts said Super Critical Technology is being used in it. Despite this, the
environmentalists didn’t agree with this power plant construction on fertile land. About
90% of the local people are assumed to make use of agricultural resources. Half of the
fertile land is lost due to construction and the other half lost its fertility due to the
emission of toxic elements by this powerplant. A very low quality of coal is used in this
power plant as 1 kg coal combustion produces only one unit of electricity and discharges
almost 20 different toxic elements. The environmental impacts of the Sahiwal coal power
plant address the cases of raging temperature, heavy flooding, agricultural losses,
658
 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) October-December 2023, Vol. 7, No. 4

disturbed land fertility, contributed pollution in canal water, and air pollution. Coal
combustion discharges many toxic elements, including fly ash and land ash. This plant
carries out almost 20 harmful toxic elements, which are released into soil and water.
Public health is badly affected and the rate of lung issues has been highly addressed in
the last few years in host communities. A local person from Sahiwal said in an interview
that he doesn’t know about the scientific properties of coal used in this power plant but
if the white cloth is hung on a rope, it becomes black after 8-9 hours so how they can
commit that a supercritical coal is being used in this powerplant. The government is
witness to all these hazards & harms of agriculture, the environment, and public health
but it is ignored just because of economic development. (Niazi, 2018).

Figure 2 Coal power plant pollution

Thar

Coal mining and power projects in Thar are the major projects under the umbrella
of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Centre of Research on Energy and Clean Air
conducted studies regarding the impacts and outputs of the Thar power plant. Forceful
displacements are the major concern of local people but it is a socio-economic problem.
Regarding the environment, coal energy is very toxic and harmful, leading to health
issues, loss of livelihood, loss of lives, and a massive increase in poverty. Local people
are compromised with clean drinking water resources, and a meaningful rise in air
pollution leads to breathing issues due to coal mining. Thar is the major contributor to
air pollution including mercury and corban die oxide emissions in the whole region.
Almost 29000 air pollution-related deaths, 40 thousand Asthma cases, and 32,000
premature births are reported. These nine coal power plants in Thar address Pakistan's
worst public health index. These power plants should also move toward renewable
energy resources for the betterment of the local people and Pakistan. (Hasan, 2020)

Gilgit Baltistan

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor initiated landmark infrastructural projects in

Gilgit Baltistan to uplift the living standards of the local people. This is due to the key

659
 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) October-December 2023, Vol. 7, No. 4

geographical location of this region. It is present in the heart of South Asia and is a full-
fledged reservoir of natural resources for Pakistan. Mega infrastructural developments,
road networking, Dam constructions, and oil & gas pipelines are projected under the
umbrella of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. ALL the developments come at the
possible cost of local livelihood degradation, environmental instability, and exploitation
of natural resources. Gilgit Baltistan provides almost half of Pakistan's drinking water
and irrigation water. CPEC makes it worse and forms an unreversible depletion of water
and the ecosystem of Gilgit Baltistan. Due to the use of technologies and heavy traffic, a
huge amount of CO2 emission is happening in the region leading toward glacier melting,
air pollution, water pollution, loss of natural habitats, and decline in biodiversity.
Pakistan is considered a rich habitat of glaciers and Gilgit Baltistan hosts almost 80% of
glaciers. Heavy glacier melting has created an alarming scenario in Pakistan for the last
few years. Heavy flooding is the result of glacier melting and almost half of Pakistan
confronted the flood in the last monsoon. Other than flooding, ice melting releases a
dangerous virus that leads to incurable diseases. Land sliding, deforestation, and loss of
forests are the other major concerns resulting from the infrastructural projects of the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Due to land sliding many road accidents are
reported daily.

Gwadar

Gwadar is the central point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. It is the

hub of trade and regional connectivity. It enhances the economic and infrastructural
development but at the same time, it harms the environment of the region. One of the
factors that are affecting the natural environment of Gwadar in CPEC is the emission of
gases by the vehicles that are being used in the completion of this project. Almost 36.5
million CO2 is released by these vehicles daily, eventually creating air pollution. The
people who breathe in this polluted air are at high risk of respiratory problems.
Moreover, this change in the climate is melting the glaciers and recent studies have
shown that increased CO2 in the air has resulted in floods that occurred in Baluchistan
in 2019. Pakistan had some energy crisis, so for CPEC some coal power plants were
planted to fulfill energy requirements. Through the production of energy, some gases are
also released in the environment that consequently cause global warming and it also
makes the rain acidic when these gases react with each other. Acid rain burns the skin of
people and causes severe eye infections. As Pakistan has only 5.1% of forest area that is
reduced by the cutting of trees for the Karakorum Highway for CPEC, the increased
amount of CO2 is not being absorbed by the trees and the air is becoming more polluted
day by day and the number of asthma, bronchitis, and cardiac patients are increasing.
(Ali S. , 2020)

Findings

 CPEC aims to mitigate the energy crisis in Pakistan. It has started many coal-
based energy projects in different areas of Pakistan. These projects are not able to
fulfill the energy needs of Pakistan but it badly affects the natural environment.

 A massive tree cutting due to new constructions and road networking of CPEC is
another major environmental concern. Road networking increases vehicle
trafficking. All these phenomena are interlinked and lead to huge CO2 emissions.

 Coal combustion is the major cause of CO2 emissions that harm the environment
and level up different kinds of negative impacts regarding public health,
biodiversity, water pollution air pollution.

660
 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) October-December 2023, Vol. 7, No. 4

 Although climate change is a global phenomenon, not only occur in Pakistan.

However, CPEC has the potential to address climate change and environmental
harm in Pakistan. Over the past few years, we all have been witness to a rapid
increase in environmental damages and changes in our country like floods,
droughts, increased temperature, heat waves, and viral diseases.

 Smog is the major result of CPEC coal-based power projects in Punjab and Sindh
provinces. We are witnessing smog that appears for the last 4 to 5 years. Before
that, we weren’t aware of it. Smog is a combination of fog, smoke, and severe air
pollution. It has a major contribution to environmental degradation and climate
change by releasing greenhouse gasses into the air. Smog reduces air quality by
reducing atmospheric pollutants such as nitrogen, sulfur, and volatile organic
compounds. These pollutants can have determinable effects on both human
health and the natural environment. It creates lung diseases and leads to fatal
road accidents due to zero visibility on roads. It also has adverse effects on
agriculture. The deposition of pollutants on crops can interfere with their
metabolic process, reduce crop yield, and lower the nutritional quality of
harvested crops. It also affects the water bodies, plant life, and wildlife as well.

 Coal-based processing has adverse effects on the natural environment in the form
of Greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. Coal holds a large number of
Sulphur compounds that are released during coal combustion and pollute air,
water, and land. Other agricultural activities such as livestock, grains, and
vegetables are also affected.

 After suffering from a huge burden of health problems China also switched off
these energy resources and ran its projects on renewable energy resources but in
Pakistan CPEC still works on coal-based energy. If we do a comparative analysis
of China and Pakistan, China is the world’s first country that rapidly converts
non-reusable energy into reusable energy. Despite this, Chinese projects in
Pakistan are still coal-based.

Conclusion

CPEC has historically not prioritized environmental sustainability. However, it is too

risky for Pakistan to achieve economic development at the cost of environmental loss. CPEC
is a game changer for Pakistan’s economy, but despite this, the natural environment and
public health cannot be bulldozed. However, unfortunately, the natural environment has
been bulldozed. While CPEC coal projects address Pakistan’s energy needs, they can inflict
significant damage on the host communities. Displacement, land acquisition, air pollution,
water scarcity, health hazards, social and cultural disruptions, and climate change impacts
are some of the challenges faced by these communities. Policymakers, project developers,
and stakeholders must ensure that the negative impacts are mitigated through the
implementation of robust environmental and social safeguards. Prioritizing sustainable
practices, community engagement, and alternative energy sources can help protect the well-
being and livelihoods of host communities and contribute to more environmentally
responsible and socially inclusive development under the CPEC initiative.

Recommendations
 Sustainable land management practices must be adopted to control land degradation
caused by mining activities to enhance the productivity of other ecosystems and
services such as crop production.
 Climate adaptation and mitigation strategies must be part of mining projects'
planning and development initiatives. This includes the use of green technologies,
661
 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) October-December 2023, Vol. 7, No. 4

exploring development projects that make little use of natural resources, disaster risk
reduction programs, and supporting technological innovations and best practices
implemented in other regions.
 Pakistani policymakers must use alternative ways of energy production other than
coal. We have to plant wind power plants on motorways same as in Germany.
 Norway produces 99% of renewable energy sources by installing hydropower
stations, and dams. Pakistan has to follow the same strategy as Norway and convert
energy resources from coal to renewable energy sources. Pakistan has to build Dams
to store water from summer to winter. It can also prevent heavy flooding and helps
to make a whiter climate & healthy environment.

662
 Pakistan Social Sciences Review (PSSR) October-December 2023, Vol. 7, No. 4

References

Afaqi, T., & Askari, D. U. (2022). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Regional
Integration And Challenges. Khaldunia: Research Journal of Social Sciences, 2(1), 1-48

Ali, Q.-u.-A., Khayyyam, U., & Nazar, U. (2021). Energy production and Co2 emission:
The case of coal-fired power plants under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Journal
of Cleaner Production, 281, 124975, 1-14.

Ali, S. (2020). China's Belt and Road Vision. Kaula Lumpur : Springer Cham.

Anjum, M. S., Ali, S. M., Imad-ud-din, M., Subhani, M. A., Anwar, M. N., Nizami, A.,
Ashraf, U., & Khokhar, M. F. (2021). An Emerged Challenge of Air Pollution and
Ever-Increasing Particulate Matter in Pakistan; A Critical Review. Journal of Hazardous
Materials, 402, 123943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123943

Asif, M., & Ling, Y. B. (2019). China-Pakistan Economic Corridor: International Media
Reporting and Legal Validity of Gilgit Baltistan. School of Journalism and
Communication, 15(2), 1-11.

Hasan, S. (30/5/2020). The study raises questions about the environmental impact of Thar coal.
Karachi: Dawn.

Iqbal, M. P. (2020). Effect of climate change on health in Pakistan. Climate Change and
Health in Pakistan, 57(3), 1-12

Kanwal, S., Mehran, M. T., Hassan, M., Anwar, M., Naqvi, S. R., & Khoja, A. H. (2022).
An integrated future approach for the energy security of Pakistan: Replacement of
fossil fuel with syngas for better environment and socio-economic development.
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 156, 1-20.

Niazi, K. (2018, Sep 9). Environmental impact of the Sahiwal Coal Power Plant. Guangzhou:
Daily Times.

Ullah, H. (2023). CPEC and the Environmental Impacts on Gilgit-Baltistan. Islamabad:

International Affair Forum.

Qudrat-Ullah, H. (2021). A review and analysis of renewable energy policies and CO2
emissions of Pakistan. Energy, 238, 121849.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.121849

663