environmental pollution in pakistan essay

Analysis: How Lahore Became the World’s Most Polluted Place

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How Lahore Became the World’s Most Polluted Place

Unprecedented smog in the “city of gardens” comes from a confluence of familiar factors..

This past month, Lahore, Pakistan, has repeatedly topped the daily ranking of most polluted city in the world. Pollution and winter weather conditions combine to shroud the city in smog—disrupting flights, causing major road closures, and wreaking havoc on the health of its citizenry.

The problem of air pollution has been steadily growing in Lahore and many other cities in Punjab province. Punjab is the most populous province in Pakistan with an estimated population of 110 million people. Five cities in Punjab were listed among the 50 most polluted cities in the world in 2020. The situation in other major Pakistani cities, such as the coastal megalopolis of Karachi, is not much better. Yet, the current situation in Lahore is most alarming, with its fine particulate count repeatedly rising well above 40 times the World Health Organization’s air quality guideline values.

Prolonged or heavy exposure to hazardous air causes varied health complications, including asthma, lung damage, bronchial infections, strokes, heart problems, and shortened life expectancy. The Global Alliance on Health and Pollution estimated in 2019 that 128,000 Pakistanis die annually due to air pollution-related illnesses. Decision-makers have been slow to react to the pollution problem. In 2019, Pakistan’s minister of climate change infamously dubbed growing concern about the smog problem in Lahore as being a conspiratorial attempt to spread misinformation . Many officials and politicians continue blaming stubble burning by Indian farmers as the main cause for Lahore’s smog problem. Blaming India may be a tit-for-tat response to similar Indian accusations, but it not an accurate assessment. Ever-changing wind patterns during the stubble-burning season mean wind directions keep fluctuating across the India-Pakistan border. “The smog in Lahore is caused by a confluence of metrological and anthropogenic factors,” said Saleem Ali, a member of the United Nations’ International Resource Panel. Namely, temperature inversion traps pollution in the atmosphere, which—alongside seasonal crop burning on the Indian-Pakistani border—combines with other sources of year-round pollution and fog to cause a spike in pollution and winter smog.

The reasons why air quality has been steadily declining in cities like Lahore are numerous. Vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, fossil fuel-fired power plants, the burning of waste materials, and coal being burned by thousands of brick kilns spattered across the province are all part of the problem. A Food and Agriculture Organization’s source appropriation study in 2020 singles out power producers, industry, and the transport sector in particular as culprits.

Over the past 15 years, Lahore has lost a significant proportion of its tree cover due to an aggressive plan to build highways, underpasses, and overpasses. Car sales in the city are booming, and many of the cars plying the roads spew toxic emissions due to a lack of vehicular inspections and widespread adulteration of fuel. Even the unadulterated form of fuel available in Lahore is of low quality.

The lack of vehicular fitness and emissions testing, alongside use of poor-quality fuel, have compounded the city’s air pollution problem, said Hammad Naqi Khan, director-general of World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan. Federal plans to switch to Euro 5-compliant fuel have faltered due to lingering economic troubles, including rising inflation. Faced with an alarmingly high level of air pollution in Lahore, the Punjab government has announced the imposition of a provincial embargo on Euro 2 fuel supplies, which is supposed to go into effect as of next month. Whether the provincial government’s plan to switch to cleaner fuel will fare any better than the federal government’s earlier resolve remains to be seen.

Conversely, bicyclists and pedestrians, who made up almost 45 percent of traffic in Lahore in 2015, remain a low priority when it comes to planning transport infrastructure, evidenced by the near absence of bike lanes or even sidewalks. And while Lahore has invested in expensive metro bus and rail projects, the feeder transit system needed to further optimize use of these metro public transport projects has not received enough attention.

Lahore, along with the rest of Pakistan, desperately needs to shift away from its reliance on fossil fuels. Doing so would help clean up the transport and energy production sectors simultaneously. Last year, the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority noted that due to fossil fuels’ price volatility and renewables’ decreasing cost, viable options for meeting the country’s energy needs through more sustainable sources were needed. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has also set an ambitious target for Pakistan to generate 30 percent of its energy needs via renewable sources by 2030. Achieving this target will not be easy. Powerful interests are invested in the promotion of fossil fuels and the transmission infrastructure it requires.

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When faced with acute power shortages, Pakistan has recently turned to China to help meet its electricity shortfalls under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). As elsewhere within China’s broader Belt and Road Initiative, China exported its coal-fired technology to plants being set up in the Punjab and elsewhere in the country. Around 19 percent of power generation in Pakistan in 2019-2020 was produced by just four coal-fired CPEC power plants, including the 1320MW Sahiwal coal-fired power plant, located in the agricultural heartland of Punjab.

China has recently vowed to stop financing coal-fired energy projects abroad, but this announcement will probably not impact projects that are already in the pipeline, including another coal-fired plant in Arifwala, Punjab. As Pakistan’s government also remains keen to exploit indigenous coal reserves to produce electricity, it has announced plans to mitigate pollution by potentially converting existing and future coal-fired plants into coal-to-liquid or coal-to-gas plants. Yet, environmentalists worry such processes are costly, water and energy intensive, and do not provide a sustainable solution to meet Pakistan’s energy requirements.

Judicial activism, monitoring, and reportage by local and international agencies has at last compelled Punjab’s government to pay attention to Lahore’s pollution problem. The provincial Environment Protection Department is now tracking and reporting air quality data, but this data is still unreliable, patchy, and based on a handful of air quality monitors. The provincial government also has several rules on the books that enable it to measure and fine polluters. Yet, there is a lack of capacity and resolve to ensure effective enforcement due to contradictory positions adopted by those in charge to deal with the problem. Although the Commissioner Lahore Office has constituted anti-smog squads in the city, Punjab’s minister for environment protection has simultaneously asked law enforcement agencies to act against private individuals or companies issuing unauthorized air quality data, which he feels is harming the country’s reputation.

Decision-makers in Lahore focus on Band-Aid solutions; for example, on particularly pollution-heavy days, offices and schools are closed to lessen human exposure and reduce traffic emissions. Punitive measures also target farmers who burn stubble and clamp down on brick kilns. However, environmental lawyer Ahmad Rafay Alam said while these “punitive actions against softer targets may be visible, they will remain ineffective if other major sources of air pollution are not addressed.”

According to architect and sustainable design advocate Raza Ali Dada, “Lahore needs a multipronged approach to contend with its environmental woes, including air pollution, which in turn necessitates attention to improved urban planning as well.” Regularizing urban slums that lack any form of waste management could help address problematic practices, such as trash burning, for instance. More efficient urban management can reduce energy consumption and vehicular emissions. Instead, there is a profusion of encroachment into surrounding agricultural areas to create gated communities without much thought to the enormous environmental stress caused by unplanned urban sprawl.

Khan’s stated environmental agenda of “greening” Pakistan has not prevented him from endorsing the multitrillion-rupee Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project. Critics fear this project will cause massive displacement, wreak havoc to Pakistan’s longest river’s ecology, and worsen pollution and air quality in Lahore for years to come.

In the absence of comprehensive and concerted efforts to combat air pollution, Lahore, once known as the “city of gardens,” is tragically choking on toxic air. Instead of looking forward to the welcomed reprieve of winter months, Lahore’s 13 million residents now must brace themselves for another bout of smog, which has acquired the status of a “fifth season.”

Syed Mohammad Ali is a nonresident scholar at the Middle East Institute, and he teaches at Georgetown and Johns Hopkins Universities.

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environmental pollution in pakistan essay

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Environmental Sustainability in Pakistan

November 20, 2020.

Pakistan is one of the few countries to achieve “on track status” vis-à-vis SDG 13 on Climate Change. The achievement of this status is largely, a result of several policies and initiatives by the government, which have been launched with the aim to improve the environment and manage the changing climate. These include among others, ‘Clean and Green Pakistan’, ‘Ten Billion Tree Tsunami’, ‘Protected Areas Initiative’ and “Recharge Pakistan”.

Despite these initiatives and successes, Pakistan remains extremely vulnerable to the impacts of Climate Change. According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2020, Pakistan is ranked fifth in the list of countries most vulnerable to climate change. Between 1999 to 2018, the country witnessed 152 extreme weather events and suffered huge losses equaling USD 3.8 billion. The human impacts of such events, for instance, the heat waves in Peshawar and Karachi, or Lahore’s overwhelming smog, are beginning to have dire health and economic impacts.

Pakistan has paid serious attention to addressing growing environmental challenges in recent times. Several policies and public sector initiatives have taken effect and several Acts have been promulgated. Strengthening of environmental protection agencies (EPA’s) at federal and provincial levels, setting up of environmental laboratories, environmental courts, National Environment Quality Standards, setting up the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) etc., are all significant milestones.

While the government leads and regulates the environmental sustainability agenda of the country, the responsibility for the conservation of the environment and its resources rests with all stakeholders, including the public and private sector, as well as individuals. Although several private sector players have piloted numerous initiatives including awareness campaigns, cleaning drives, WASH programs etc., there has been no check and balance on acts that have been harming the environment. These include irresponsible hospital and municipal waste disposal, depletion of forest cover, extensive and unsustainable use of water in agriculture etc. In addition, imprudent individual behaviour, such as irresponsible littering, extensive use of motorized transport, burning of crop residue post-harvest, are all incidences that are having a ripple effect on exacerbating environmental challenges.

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Essay on Pollution in Pakistan and Its Causes

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Pollution is often classed as point source or nonpoint source pollution. Essay on Pollution in Pakistan and Its Causes Solution.

In 2015, pollution killed 9 million people in the world. Major forms of pollution include: Short essay on pollution in Pakistan, Environmental Pollution in Pakistan English Essay Air pollution, light pollution, littering, noise pollution, plastic pollution, soil contamination, radioactive contamination, thermal pollution, visual pollution, water pollution. Pakistan is one of the developing countries which are sustaining the pollution problem. Traffic congestion is one of the main causes of air pollution. The usage of old transports is ruining the situation. No prevailing laws are strictly implemented as a result factory exudes their smoke into the air. Simultaneously wasted poisonous substances are excreted in the water of rivers and lakes which is causing water pollution.

Essay on Pollution in Pakistan and Its Causes

The conditions exacerbate in the urban areas. In some predominant areas main roads are windened but the status is worst inside the streets where with all the air and water pollution, people throw the garbage on the streets. Pollution in Pakistan is persistently increasing and on the other hand healthy environmental policies are not on the priority list, resulting the spread of the diseases for instance asthema and lungs cancer etc.

Water Pollution: this is a major problem in Pakistan. There are many sources of water pollution in Pakistan. Most of them are found in Karachi as it is an area of industries. Although it is a government policy to filter the industrial water and then release it into the sea many industries here are dumping contaminated water in seas thereby increasing the threat of extinction of marine life as well as polluting the water. Almost the whole of city’s sewerage is dumped into rivers and the sea. As a result of this Karachi is facing many problems in the access of clean water and most parts of the city are still without water.

Land Pollution: As Pakistan is not a rich country, it doesn’t have enough money to spend on waste disposal systems. As a result most of the home waste and other kinds of wastage is usually thrown away on empty plots next to the houses and is then burned which may be harmful to the people living in the area. Only less than 5% of the waste is recycled and most of it is disposed directly on the ground. There are only a few garbage cans along the roads so people living far away have to dispose off their waste somewhere else.

About the Author: Mustansar Khan

Methodology

Pollution Facts
Policy Impacts

Country Spotlight

Pollution Ranking

4 out of 252 countries

44.73 Particulate Pollution (µg/m 3 )

3.89 Gain in life expectancy if WHO Guideline is met

15 National Standard

Pakistan is the world’s fourth most polluted country. Fine particulate air pollution (PM 2.5 ) shortens the average Pakistani resident’s life expectancy by 3.9 years, relative to what it would be if the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m 3 was met. Some areas of Pakistan fare much worse than average, with air pollution shortening lives by almost 7 years in the country’s most polluted regions like Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Peshawar.

KEY TAKE-AWAYS

All of Pakistan’s 238 million people live in areas where the annual average particulate pollution level exceeds the WHO guideline; 98.3 percent of the population live in areas that exceed the country’s own national air quality standard of 15 µg/m 3 .
Measured in terms of life expectancy, particulate pollution is the second greatest threat to human health in Pakistan (behind cardiovascular diseases), taking 3.9 years off the life of the average Pakistani. In contrast, child and maternal malnutrition, and maternal and neonatal disorders reduce average life expectancy by 2.7 years.
Particulate pollution has increased over time. From 1998 to 2021, average annual particulate pollution increased by 49.9 percent, further reducing life expectancy by 1.5 years.
In the most polluted provinces of the country—Punjab, Islamabad Capital Territory and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—165.5 million residents or 69.5 percent of Pakistan’s population are on track to lose between 3.7 to 4.6 years of life expectancy on average relative to the WHO guideline and between 2.7 to 3.6 years relative to the national standard if the current pollution levels persist.

[1] This data is based on the AQLI 2021 dataset. All annual average PM 2.5 values (measured in micrograms per cubic meter: µg/m³) are population weighted.

[2] We define Karachi as the following six regions: Central Karachi, East Karachi, Korangi Karachi, Malir Karachi, South Karachi and West Karachi.

Related Reports

Pakistan fact sheet.

Pakistan is the world’s fourth most polluted country. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens the average Pakistani resident’s life expectancy by 3.9 years, relative to what it would be if the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline of 5 µg/m3 was met. Some areas of Pakistan fare much worse than average, with air pollution shortening lives by almost 7 years in the country’s most polluted regions like Lahore, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Peshawar.

Related News

In South Asia, Vehicle Exhaust, Agricultural Burning and In-Home Cooking Produce Some of the Most Toxic Air in the World

Pakistan’s Rising Air Pollution Prompts Concern

Pakistan Orders Monday Closure of Schools and Offices in Lahore to Cut Smog

OP-ED: Toxic Air Knows No Boundaries

For media requests regarding our pakistan research, please contact:.

Vicki Ekstrom High

Senior Director, Communications & External Engagement (EPIC)

[email protected]

The AQLI converts air pollution concentrations into their impact on life expectancy. From this, the public and policymakers alike can determine the benefits of air pollution policies in perhaps the most important measure that exists: longer lives.

The aqli estimates the relationship between air pollution and life expectancy, allowing users to view the gain in life expectancy they could experience if their community met world health organization (who) guidelines, national standards or some other standard..

Wednesday 1 March 2017

Environmental pollution in pakistan english essay for ba/ma classes.

Environmental Pollution in Pakistan English Essay

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Environmental Challenges in Pakistan | CSS Essay Material

Environmental issues in Pakistan have been disturbing the balance between economic development and environmental protection

As a big importer of renewable natural resources and a large consumer of fossil fuels, Pakistan’s Ministry of Environment takes responsibility to conserve and protect the environment; however unfortunately there are many challenges. While we grow more than 8 percent in GDP and create economic opportunities, this increase adds growing stress and implications on the environment. The constant growth in population is another massive challenge. As we grow economically, we have to decide that we achieve a better quality of life. At the end of the day, when we have more money but our quality of life suffers and we can’t breathe and drink pure water; then it is not worth it.

Pakistan’s environmental concerns

A number of serious environmental problems are inherent in the country, which are of great ecological concern in terms of its sustainable economic future. These include soil erosion, pesticide misuse, deforestation, desertification, urban pollution, water logging and salinity, freshwater pollution and marine water pollution, just to name a few.

Perhaps the main contributor to their intensity is population growth, which is very high in contrast to the natural limited resources that are available to the people. Also included in the constraints is the unsustainable use and management of these resources. Around 179 million people live in this country, making it the 6th most populous country in the world. The rate of population growth is one of the fastest and according to estimates it would double in just 25 years. What is obvious from this is, if the population continues to grow at this rate, it would take a severe toll in the environment. Unfortunately Pakistan is not endowed with resources required to sustain such a huge population. Although it is primarily an agricultural country, the landscape is mainly arid. Water, already a scarce commodity in most parts of the country, is now facing further shortages. This is also due in part to inadequate distribution and the coercion of the “water-tanker mafia.” Pakistan’s energy use is excessively inefficient. It’s GDP per unit energy used is 4.0, which ranks it 69th out of 110 countries for which data is available. This waste of energy is combined with the need to import fossil fuels and as a result there is a very low productive per capita use of energy.

Environmental issues

Pakistan suffers from water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff. There exists limited natural fresh water resources, and a majority of the population does not have access to potable water. Scant attention is devoted to pollution. In 1987 only 6 percent of rural residents and 51 percent of urban residents had access to sanitary facilities. Greater success has been achieved in bringing potable water within reach of the people, with nearly half the population enjoyed such access by 1990.However, researchers at the Pakistan Medical Research Council, recognizing that a large proportion of diseases in Pakistan are caused by the consumption of polluted water, have questioned the “safe” classification in use in the 1990s. Even the 38 percent of the population that receives its water through pipelines runs the risk of consuming seriously contaminated water, although the problem varies by area. In Punjab, for example, as much as 90 percent of drinking water comes from groundwater, as compared with only 9 percent in Sindh. The central government’s Perspective Plan (1988–2003) and previous five-year plans do not mention sustainable development strategies. Further, there have been no overarching policies focused on sustainable development and conservation. The state has focused on achieving self-sufficiency in food production, meeting energy demands, and containing the high rate of population growth, not on curtailing pollution or other environmental hazards. In 1992 Pakistan’s National Conservation Strategy Report attempted to redress the previous inattention to the nation’s mounting environmental problem. Drawing on the expertise of more than 3,000 people from a wide array of political affiliations, the government produced a document outlining the current state of environmental health, its sustainable goals, and viable program options for the future.

Environmental and Health Effects

The poor cannot deal with the impacts of a degraded environment. Their habitats are environmentally vulnerable and they do not have access to many facilities. As a result they are prone to diseases because they live in low-income houses usually in industrial areas and have little choice in the quality of their nutritional intake. This increases their vulnerability to diseases, which they do not have the capacity to treat. They have minimum access to health services and spend long hours in polluted work places (factories) or work as unskilled labor. In the rural areas also, the poor usually work as labor on somebody else’s farm and the incessant use of pesticides and fertilizers increases their exposure to health risks.

Read also: Art and Morality Essay Outline

Degradation of the Urban Environment

Urban growth is estimated to be 4.6 percent per year. This is mainly a consequence of the high rate of rural-urban migration that contributes to the rapid decay of urban environment. Estimates indicate that 6 million (16 percent) people are unemployed and this is expected to increase by 500,000 annually. The increase in population, unemployment, and pressure on agricultural lands means migration to urban areas. The migrants usually are poor and are forced to live in urban slums. Out of the total population 45 percent of the people in Sindh and 50 percent in Punjab live in one-room houses. They often are not linked to water supplies and sanitation. The reason is their lack of financial resources and the administration does not provide these because that might give them legal status. They also do not invest in their residences as they either do not have the money or are afraid of being evicted. When the utility services are not available, unhealthy practices are adopted. Waste is dumped out in the open and becomes a source of water contamination.

Health factors

Water contamination causes serious problems and water supply standards set by the World Health Organization are rarely met. Fifty percent of the population has access to piped water and the rural water supply coverage in 1997-98 was 90 percent according to an appraisal done by the World Bank. However this did not take into account the private sector’s provision of potable water. The surveys by UNICEF/Ministry of Health, give different indications. In the 1995 survey by UNICEF (Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey), it was revealed that 17 percent of the rural households have piped water and 52 percent had family hand pumps. Water quality is deteriorating due to biological contamination from human waste, chemical pollutants from industries and agricultural inputs and salinity. Piped water also gets contaminated because pipes are laid very close to sewerage lines or open drains and chemicals like chlorine, which is mixed to kill bacteria, corrode the supply lines.

Read also: The Shocking Assassinations That Shook the World

Message for the youth

This environmental movement is your movement and we can fight environment degradation through a movement because of the young people of Pakistan. If we want to make a better Pakistan for future generations, youngsters (male and female) should actively take part and learn about the issues and try to tackle the problems. One of the best solutions is to change our bad habits of water waste, electricity and dispersal of garbage.

By Saira Ronaq

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About the author

Shahzad Faisal Malik is the administrator of CSSTimes.pk and is responsible for managing the content, design, and overall direction of the blog. He has a strong background in Competitive Exams and is passionate and sharing information with others. Shahzad Faisal Malik has worked as a Graphic Designer/Content Creator at CSSTimes in the past. In his free time, Shahzad Faisal Malik enjoys watching Cricket, writing blogs for different websites and is always on the lookout for new and interesting content to share with the readers of this website. As the website administrator, Shahzad Faisal Malik is dedicated to providing high-quality content and fostering a welcoming and engaging community for readers. He looks forward to connecting with readers and hearing their thoughts and feedback on the website.

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Environmental health

The environment in which we live greatly affects our health. Household, workplace, outdoor and transportation environments all pose risks to health in a number of ways from the poor quality of air that many people breathe, coupled to hazards related to unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene. It is estimated that 24% of the global disease burden and 23% of all deaths can be attributed to environmental factors. About 36% of this burden affects children from 0 to 14 years of age.

According to estimates from the WHO Global Health Observatory, about 200 deaths per 100 000 population are attributable to environmental factors in Pakistan. The World Bank estimates that Pakistan’s annual burden of disease due to outdoor air pollution accounts for 22 000 premature adult deaths and 163 432 DALYS lost, while that for indoor pollution accounts for 40 million cases of acute respiratory infections and 28 000 deaths/year. The WHO Global Health Observatory estimates that about 30 deaths per 100 000 are attributable to indoor air pollution, while about 25 deaths per 100 000 are attributable to outdoor air pollution.

Regional plan on the environment

In order to address health issues related to the environment, WHO developed a regional plan in 1997 and has provided support to Member States to develop national strategies for health and the environment, stratifying countries according to differences in geographic, socioeconomic, environmental and health conditions, level of development, available capacity and other factors. Pakistan falls within the group of least developed countries in terms of the water supply and sanitation, and need major efforts to improve the sanitation. this category of countries has identified five priorities for protecting the environment, promoting healthy lifestyles and improving quality of life:

drinking-water quality (including increased access to water and sanitation)
solid waste (including hazardous wastes, such as health care waste)
domestic combustion of biomass (indoor air pollution)
food safety
vector control.

To achieve health for all and the Sustainable Development Goals, WHO in partnership with countries is striving to reduce and/or alleviate environmental health threats taking into account the special needs of vulnerable groups (children, elderly, women, chronically ill, the poor) and developing linkages between poverty, health and development for maintaining and sustaining healthy environments.

It is critical to build the institutional capacity of the health sector (at provincial, district and local levels) in relation to environmental hazards to reinforce surveillance, early detection and response in the areas of infectious diseases, nutrition, respiratory diseases, water, and food safety. It is equally important that the provincial authorities are capable of generating and/or gathering intelligence and establishing early warning systems for environmental sensitive diseases, and in integrating such intelligence into existing health information management systems.

Improving evidence-based policies will lead to greater protection for health from environmental changes and raise the awareness of the public about adaptation to change and to adopt appropriate mitigation measures. WHO has provided technical support to strengthen institutional capacities and promote the engagement of women and the local communities by enhancing their capacities to effectively monitor the quality of water sources affected by climate-related extreme events. These activities have ensured well-functioning and properly equipped water quality control facilities are in place in affected areas.

An evidence-based situation report on environment and health in Pakistan was conducted by WHO in 2015. The assessment outcome provided information for decision-makers on the extent and magnitude of likely health risks attributable to climate change, and priority policies and programmes to prevent and reduce the severity of future impacts. The assessment also focussed on identifying populations vulnerable to current and possible future changes in the geographical range of environmental-sensitive infectious diseases. In early 2017, WHO also supported the completion of the GLAAS exercise across all provinces of Pakistan.

Ongoing activities

WHO is providing technical support for the upcoming international SACOSAN VII Conference to be held under the leadership of Ministry of Climate Change in Pakistan in February 2018. It is also conducting discussions for the implementation of piloting GLAAS extension tool for assessing the situation of major information around WASH indicators 6.1; 6.2 and 6.3 with a potential to provide baseline for data on indicator 6.3 specifically, and support in triangulating with data on 6.1 and 6.2 as determined by JMP report.

Planned activities

The major focus of WHO’s upcoming activities include:

building capacities of national and provincial authorities and partners working in environmental ministries and departments; international nongovernmental organizations; United Nations agencies and community-based organizations in environmental health area to assess and manage the health impacts of environmental risks, including through health impact assessments, and support the development of national policies and plans on environmental and workers’ health;
providing technical support for finalization of provincial Environmental H strategies and operational plans in alignment with SDG 6;
extending support to Ministry of Climate Change to conduct consultation meeting to support target setting; monitoring and reporting from the Government on target 6.3;
conducting capacity-building of provinces for improving monitoring drinking water quality and control to prevent water borne diseases and improving infection control measures in critical units of HFs;
conducting national and interprovincial seminars on poor air quality to adapt safe international standards for mitigating detrimental hazardous effects on children under five;
conducting media campaigns on environmental hazards and health issues in Pakistan.

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'Plastic denting Pakistan's climate efforts'

A s Pakistan grapples to combat climate change, experts are sounding alarms about the significant hurdle posed by plastic pollution, which threatens to overshadow the nation's efforts to safeguard its ecosystems and address environmental degradation.

Despite advancements in environmental policy and activism, the pervasive presence of plastic pollution remains a pressing concern, hindering Pakistan's sustainability goals.

Renowned environmentalist Dr Ejaz Ahmed, a former Director at WWF-Pakistan, emphasised the urgent need for action to tackle plastic pollution's detrimental effects. He highlighted how plastic pollution, from clogging waterways to disrupting ecosystems, casts a shadow over Pakistan's sustainability aspirations.

Dr Ejaz Ahmed also discussed the potential of recycling initiatives and scientific advancements in turning plastic waste into valuable resources, such as co-processing fuel in cement production and creating construction materials.

The adverse impacts of plastic on human life and health were also underscored by the expert, who pointed out the manifold repercussions, including endangering aquatic life, clogging drainage systems, and contributing to health issues. Despite awareness campaigns and regulatory efforts, plastic continues to pervade daily life, from household items to food packaging, posing a persistent challenge.

Plastic pollution's omnipresent and insidious nature has wreaked havoc across ecosystems, presenting a daunting challenge to Pakistan's sustainability efforts. The sheer volume of global plastic production, with over 300 million tons annually and half of it being single-use plastics, highlights the urgency of addressing this issue.

While countries like Bangladesh, France, and Rwanda have taken decisive steps to curb plastic proliferation, Pakistan faces a critical juncture with the highest percentage of mismanaged plastic in South Asia.

Experts say initiatives such as banning plastic bags in key cities like Islamabad, Lahore, and Hunza through a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) signify progress, albeit amidst the absence of comprehensive policy frameworks at federal and provincial levels.

Shafee Muhammad Marwat, a director at the capital's civic body leading anti-pollution campaigns, emphasised the dangers of plastic to human and aquatic life, as well as infrastructure. Despite previous efforts to discourage plastic use, its pervasive nature persists, even extending to food and waste disposal.

Climate and health experts echoed concerns about the dire health consequences of plastic, citing the rise of lung diseases, cancers, and dermatological ailments. Dr Shazia Aslam, a prominent Lahore-based dermatologist, highlighted the release of toxic chemicals from plastic when heated, emphasising the need for biodegradable alternatives and sustainable practices.

She said in recent years, combating plastic pollution has emerged as a crucial frontier in the pursuit of environmental sustainability.

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Plastic pandemic could prolong Pakistan's climate battle, experts warn

As Pakistan endeavors to combat climate change; the looming specter of the plastic pandemic emerges as a formidable obstacle.

From polluted waterways to compromised ecosystems, plastic pollution threatens to prolong the nation’s fight against environmental challenges.

The climate and health experts have warned to address this pressing issue on urgent basis to protect Pakistan’s sustainability efforts.

“Despite strides in environmental policy and activism, the pervasive presence of plastic pollution threatens to prolong the nation’s fight against climate instability.

From clogged waterways to compromised ecosystems, the detrimental effects of plastic cast a shadow over Pakistan’s sustainability aspirations, underscoring the urgency of concerted action” warned a renowned environmentalist Dr Ejaz Ahmed, a former Director at WWF-Pakistan.

Dr. Ejaz Ahmed also advocated the potential of recycling initiatives and scientific advancements in transforming plastic waste into a valuable resource for the country’s benefits.

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From co-processing fuel in cement production to construction materials, innovative solutions promise to mitigate the plastic menace while reducing carbon emissions, he remarked.

Highlighting the adverse effects of plastic in everyday human life and health, Dr. Ejaz said the repercussions of plastic pervasiveness are manifold, from endangering aquatic life to clogging drainage systems and health woes.

Despite concerted efforts to raise awareness and enforce regulations; the insidious spread of plastic persists, permeating daily life from household items to food packaging, he lamented.

Plastic pollution, omnipresent and insidious, is wreaking havoc and from production to disposal, its detrimental effects reverberate across ecosystems, posing a daunting challenge to Pakistan’s sustainability efforts, he expresssed dismay.

In Pakistan, where the specter of climate change looms large, the battle against plastic pollution has assumed paramount importance.

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With over 300 million tons of plastic churned out globally each year, and a staggering half of it comprising single-use plastics, the urgency to stem this tide has never been more pressing.

While countries like Bangladesh, France, and Rwanda have taken decisive steps to curb plastic proliferation, Pakistan stands at a pivotal juncture, grappling with the highest percentage of mismanaged plastic in South Asia.

The issuance of a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) banning plastic bags in key cities like Islamabad, Lahore, and Hunza marks a significant stride, albeit amidst a lack of comprehensive policy frameworks at the federal and provincial levels.

Shafee Muhammad Marwat, a Director at the Capital’s civic body, that periodically launches campaigns against pollution, highlighted the dangers of plastic, citing its harm to both human and aquatic life, as well as its detrimental effects on infrastructure.

Despite previous efforts to discourage its use through campaigns and fines, the insidious spread of plastic persists, permeating daily life from household items to food packaging, he lamented.

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Despite previous efforts to discourage its use through campaigns and fines, plastic remains pervasive, even being used for food and waste disposal, he admitted.

Climate and Health experts echoed unanimous concerns on the dire health consequences of plastic proliferation, citing the emergence of lung diseases, cancers, and dermatological ailments as harbingers of a looming crisis.

Endorsing Marwat and DR Ejaz’s concerns, Dr. Shazia Aslam, a well-known Lahore-based dermatologist , underscores the health risks posed by plastic, including the release of toxic chemicals when heated, leading to lung diseases and cancers.

Highlighting the deleterious effects of plastic on human health, Dr. Shazia Aslam stresses the urgent need to transition to biodegradable alternatives.

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As Pakistan navigates the treacherous waters of climate change, the battle against plastic pollution emerges as a defining frontier in its quest for environmental sustainability.

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5 Biggest Environmental Issues Affecting Pakistan and How to Solve Them

Home » Lifestyle » 5 Biggest Environmental Issues Affecting Pakistan and How to Solve Them

You have probably heard or read about the rising sea levels, melting ice caps, drastic changes in weather patterns, and a significant decline in the population of several species around the globe. While you may think these events don’t affect you directly, the truth is they are all signs of the impending climate crisis and pose a huge threat to the entire planet. Therefore, just like the rest of the world, there are several serious environmental issues in Pakistan that need to be addressed and dealt with on an urgent basis.

Granted, the federal and provincial governments, along with other organizations, have introduced a multitude of initiatives to solve the environmental problems in Pakistan. However, there is much more that needs to be done if we want our future generations to live in a world that at least has drinkable water, breathable air, tolerable weather, and edible produce.

Environmental Protection Laws and Agencies in Pakistan

In 1997, the government enacted the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act to safeguard, conserve, rehabilitate and improve the environment of the country through sustainable development measures such as pollution control. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Council, which was first established in 1984, was also reconstituted following the enactment of the 1997 legislation. Its main function is to supervise the implementation of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act.

Here are a few more agencies that deal with the ecological problems of Pakistan.

Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (formerly known as ENERCON)
Pakistan Forest Institute
National Council for Conservation of Wildlife
The Zoological Survey Department of Pakistan
Akhtar Hameed Khan National Centre for Rural Development & Municipal Administration

Key Environmental Issues in Pakistan

Pakistan is an agricultural country as nearly 60% of its overall population resides in rural areas with little to no access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities. Owing to the growing population, expansion of the economic sector, unplanned urbanization, poor waste management system, and a number of other factors, the environmental problems in Pakistan are getting worse with each passing year.

Let’s take an in-depth look at some of the most serious environmental issues in Pakistan and discuss possible solutions to tackle these growing threats.

Deforestation

Deforestation refers to the loss of forest areas that occurs when humans cut down trees to obtain wood and fuel but do not replant them. Urbanization, growing population, and rapid expansion of cities are also among the leading causes of deforestation in Pakistan.

Apart from destroying the natural beauty of the land, cutting down forests also has a huge impact on the ecosystem as it affects countless wildlife habitats. Unfortunately, with more and more rural areas converting into urban centres, Pakistan has a high deforestation rate. Moreover, due to lack of resources and poverty, many rely on timber from trees to keep them warm during the winter months or build homes.

Nevertheless, whatever the reason may be, one can’t argue against deforestation being a huge threat to our environment.

The solution for this environmental issue is pretty clear: we need to plant more trees and conserve our remaining forests. Luckily, the government has launched multiple tree plantation drives in Pakistan over the past years to overcome this problem.

Furthermore, Pakistan already has a huge man-made forest in Punjab known as Changa Manga . Other than that, the One Billion Trees initiative undertaken by the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is also a noteworthy achievement in this regard. It is also worth mentioning that going paperless can play a huge role in curbing deforestation in Pakistan .

Air Pollution

If you’ve suffered through the winter smog in Lahore and other big cities, you would agree that Pakistan is going through an air pollution crisis.

Air pollution can be defined as the presence of toxic solid and liquid particles in the air along with certain gases that are harmful to the environment. This type of pollution is mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels for transportation and the production of electricity. The black smoke that you see coming out of vehicles on the road and out of factories in the industrial areas are all leading causes of air pollution in Pakistan.

Lack of rainfall and low wind speed have also exacerbated the issue in some parts of the country.

One of the most efficient ways to deal with air pollution in Pakistan is to plant more trees. In addition, concerned authorities must take action to reduce the number of diesel vehicles that emit excessive carbon in the air. The high content of lead in petrol is also an important issue that needs immediate attention, as inhaling smoke from vehicles can result in a high concentration of lead in the blood of children and adults. The local assembling of electric vehicles in Pakistan could play a crucial role in saving our environment from greenhouse gas emissions.

On a personal level, you can help solve this environmental issue in Pakistan by reducing the number of trips you take in your car or, if possible, riding a bicycle instead. People who live in the northern areas of the country can also try and minimise their use of firewood. Similarly, the use of wood stoves must also be reduced.

Furthermore, we should ban the somewhat common practice of burning leaves and garbage along with other materials to help protect the environment in Pakistan.

Water Pollution

Water pollution is caused when toxic substances such as chemicals, waste, and certain microorganisms contaminate a body of water, rendering it harmful for human use or consumption. Drinking from polluted streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds, or using its water to bathe or cook, can be extremely harmful to one’s health.

The reasons behind water pollution could be a poor sewage system, throwing chemical wastage from factories into the ocean, and an increase in litter, especially plastic. Given that Pakistan is an agricultural country with an arid climate, water pollution is also harming our crops and land. This is also one of the main reasons why a large chunk of the population does not have access to clean drinking water.

To sum it up, water pollution in Pakistan is considered a huge risk to public health.

One of the best ways to counter this environmental problem in Pakistan is to set up a proper sewage treatment and management system. The agricultural sector of the country also needs to reduce its use of pesticides and fertilizers, as these harmful chemicals can easily find their way to water bodies and lead to pollution.

More importantly, the government must take steps to ban individuals and companies from disposing of their waste and rubbish into lakes, rivers, and oceans.

Land Pollution

Like most developing countries, land pollution is a serious environmental issue in Pakistan.

Annually, the country generates approximately 48.5 million tons of solid waste with a 2% increase each year. Since we don’t have a proper waste disposal system, most of it is either burned, which causes air pollution or buried on vacant land, causing soil erosion. Moreover, the rest of the waste is just dumped on empty lots, damaging the environment and leading to land pollution.

Urbanization and the use of harmful chemicals and pesticides are also some of the major causes of land pollution in Pakistan.

You can minimize land pollution by adopting a zero-waste lifestyle and reducing your use of plastic. In fact, authorities in Pakistan recently proposed a ban on plastic bags in order to actively fight against plastic pollution. Other ways to help tackle this ecological problem of Pakistan include recycling and reusing things, buying organic products, and avoiding using harsh chemicals such as industrial cleaners and bleach solutions.

Since we ourselves are responsible for protecting our environment, please check out our guide on how to keep Pakistan clean and green . Furthermore, Karachi Cleanliness Drive is a great example of how we must take steps to deal with these environmental issues in Pakistan.

Global Warming

Before we discuss global warming in Pakistan, let’s first establish that the terms global warming and climate change are not interchangeable. However, it’s a common mistake that most people make.

To further clarify, global warming refers to the long-term warming of the planet due to pollution, whereas climate change is a broad phenomenon referring to abnormal variations to the Earth’s climate. To put it simply, one can say that global warming is a symptom of climate change.

Now, unfortunately, Pakistan is one of the biggest victims of global warming in the world. The heatwaves and cold snaps that we have been suffering for the past several years are all due to increased global warming. The main reason behind this is the emission of fossil fuels. However, it is definitely not the only culprit.

If we want to help protect the ozone layer from depleting at such a quick pace and help reduce the size of our carbon footprint on the Earth, we should consider adopting a sustainable and minimal-waste lifestyle . It will help minimize our impact on the planet’s natural resources and ensure a high quality of life for our future generations.

Furthermore, apart from being environment-friendly, it is also extremely healthy.

So, do you have any suggestions regarding environmental issues in Pakistan? If yes, please feel free to share your thoughts and comments with us by dropping an email at [email protected] . Meanwhile, for more information regarding environmental problems and tips on how to solve them, stay tuned to Zameen Blog – a leading lifestyle blog striving for a cleaner and greener Pakistan.

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Pollution essay with quotations and outline

This page has an essay on environmental pollution in Pakistan. The essay is specially written for class 12 and 2nd year students. The quotations have been included in the essay. The outline is also given. The essay can be used by BA students too. It is also good for 10th class.

Pollution essay for 2nd year with quotations

10th class students may not include quotations to keep the essay short. The outline is given for college-level and degree-level students.

Essay on Pollution in English

1. What is pollution

2. Types of Pollution

3. Causes of Pollution

4. Effects of Pollution

5. Our responsibility

6. Measures to control pollution

7. Conclusion

Pollution is the forerunner of perdition - John Trapp

Pollution should never be the prices of prosperity - Al Gore

Pollution- if you don't kill it, it will kill you - Anonymous

The more we pollute the earth the less we deserve to live on earth. - M.M Ildan