The word “environment”
was unfamiliar to people of Pakistan
even after promulgation of the 1983 Environmental
Protection Ordinance. Pakistan Environmental Protection
Council-an apex body for setting up environmental
policies, met for the first time after 9 years since
the Ordinance became effective. Even the rules to
operate the 1983 Ordinance could not be formulated
in 13 years span till it was replaced with a new act
of Parliament in 1997. Environmental institutions
at the federal and provincial levels were too weak
to enforce the laws. Environmental awareness was non-existence
and whatever efforts exerted made a little change
due to low literacy rate. In that way, a decade passed
without happening a significant event in the environmental
history of Pakistan since the 1983 Ordinance promulgated.
Environmental Policy
Pakistan’s Environmental Policy is
based on participatory approach to achieving objectives
of sustainable development through legally, administratively
and technically sound institutions.
Environment Law
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act was enacted
on 6th December 1997 to provide for the protection,
conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of environment,
for the prevention and control of pollution,
and promotion of sustainable development. The Act
particularly focuses on implementation of Council’s
policies, delegation of powers to government agencies,
enforcement of National Environmental Quality Standards,
introduction of EIA/IEE review procedures/system,
regulatory regime for hazardous substances/wastes,
resource generation through establishment of Provincial
Sustainable Development Fund and levy of Pollution
Charge and providing appellant forum for environmental
cases.
The Ministry
The Ministry of Environment, Local Government
and Rural Development, which was earlier named as
Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Wildlife, was
established in 1994. A Federal Minister heads the
Ministry while the Secretary holds the administrative
charge. Additional Secretary is responsible for different
sections dealing with environment, forestry, local
government and urban affairs. A National Conservation
Unit is responsible for coordination of implementation
of the country’s Conservation Strategy. The
Local Government Wing of the Ministry comprises of
Local Government and Rural Development sections. The
Local Government deals with the matters pertaining
to new local government system introduced on 14th
August 2001. The Rural Development side deals with
the infrastructure development programmes primarily
in rural areas such as Khushhal Pakistan and donor
assisted rural access roads projects.
Ministry has a web site http://www.environment.gov.pk
which contains useful information about its charter,
legislation, programmes, news/events and implementation
status of international conventions and protocols.
Basic
Facts
Pakistan
is basically an agricultural country with a population
of 138 million, 65% of which lives in the rural areas.
Literacy rate is approximately 30%. Access of rural
population to safe drinking water is 48% while only
23% rural population has sanitation facilities. Agriculture,
the largest economic sector, contributes 25% to GDP.
Out of a reported area of 59.32 million hectares,
only 21.92 million hectares is cultivated while 24.62
million hectares is not available for cultivation
due to one or the other reasons. Excessive use of
fertilizer, pesticides and aerial spray leads to serious
environmental and health problems for rural community
and wildlife. Development schemes like construction
of roads, electrification, setting up of industry
and sometimes mega projects like construction of dams
and oil and gas exploration not only cause environmental
degradation but also uproot rural community
Environmental Issues
According to a study conducted by Brandon
of World Bank in 1992-1993 and later updated by Mathew
in 1997, the environmental cost to Pakistan
economy in six sectors was estimated as US $ 1.8 billion.
The cost to economy in terms of urban air pollution
was estimated US $ 369 million per year. This cost
was associated with expenditures on health, economic
and production loss due to absentees in factories,
offices and schools.
Air Pollution
Pollution control/abatement is one of the
core areas of the Pakistan National Conservation Strategy
(NCS) approved by the Government. One of the emerging
environmental issues is gradation of ambient air quality
particularly in urban areas. Various surveys show
that air pollution levels in cities have either crossed
safe limits or have reached the threshold values.
The most serious issue of air quality in Pakistan
is the presence of excessive suspended particulate
matters (SPM) present in the ambient air. The major
sources of SPM are vehicles, industry, burning of
solid waste, brick kilns and natural dust. Pakistan
is an arid country with rainfall ranging as low as
80 mm in the south to as high as 1600 mm in the north.
Moreover, the wind speed, which is essential for flushing
of pollution,
is also low in our cities. In the dry and low wind
days, natural dust and anthrapogenic pollution, when
generated in access, takes longer time to disperse
off. Over the last few years average rainfall has
declined in many parts of the country. The levels
of suspended particulate matters and other pollutants,
which have active co-relation with meteorological
conditions, are likely to increase if the dry air
condition prevails. Recently, Pakistan EPA with the
assistance of Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) carried out
ambient air quality study in three major cities namely
Lahore;
Rawalpindi; and Islamabad
to assess pollution levels in traffic-congested areas.
The study revealed that the average suspended particulate
matters in our cities were 6.4 times higher than WHO
Guidelines and 3.8 times higher than Japanese
standards. The levels of Sulphur Dioxide, Oxides of
Nitrogen and Carbon Monoxide were found in excess
of acceptable standards in some areas but the average
levels were
found below WHO guidelines. Presence of such a high
levels of suspended particulate matters in the air
is certainly a matter of concern due to its serious
health implications for public.
Increasing Traffic Trends
In Pakistan,
the number of vehicles have jumped from 0.8 million
to about 4.0 million within 20 years showing an overall
increase of more than 400%. The average compound growth
of vehicles is about 11 percent per annum. Since 1980,
the maximum growth has been seen in 2-stroke vehicles
i.e delivery vans which is 1751%, followed by Motor
cycles 541% and Rickshaws
159%. According to a World
Bank study carried out in Bangladesh
and India, the major cause of suspended particulate
matters was due to 2- stroke vehicles using straight
mineral oil (instead of 2T oil) as lubricant and use
of excessive quantity of lubricant (12%) instead of
2% for motor cycles and 3% for three wheelers. Diesel
trucks and buses have also increased at an alarming
rate of 200-300% since 1980. Diesel vehicles due to
overloading, faulty injection nozzles and weak engine
emit excessive graphitic carbon (visible smoke). This
situation is very common in our country. Diesel Particulate
Filter
(DPF), which is a device used in many countries to
control emission in diesel vehicles, cannot be used
in Pakistan
as it requires low sulphur diesel i.e 0.05-0.5% sulphur
(available diesel in market contains 1% sulphur).
Use of Leaded Petrol
Another serious issue is that of high content
of lead in petrol, which presently is 0.35 gram/liter.
Different studies carried out by Pakistan Medical
and Dental Association and Agha
Khan Medical Hospital have confirmed presence
of high concentration of blood lead levels in school
children, traffic police and adults. Road side air
samples also showed high lead in air. Many countries
of the region including Bangladesh,
China,
India,
Japan, Philippines,
Thailand
and almost all Europeans
countries have banned lead in gasoline.
Water Pollution
Per capita water availability in Pakistan
has been decreasing at an alarming rate. In 1951 per
capita availability was 53,000 cubic meter which has
now decreased to 12000 cubic meter just touching water
scarcity level of 1000 cubic meter (World Bank study).
The existing water resources are under threat due
to untreated discharge of municipal and industrial
wastes to river and other surface water reservoirs.
Municipal water is treated only in two cities viz.
Karachi and Islamabad though the capacity of these
treatment plants is much less than the actual quantum
of wastewater.
The effluent of other cities mostly dumped into the
rivers having high BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand)
and COD (Chemicals Oxygen Demand). A recent study
conducted by Pak-EPA indicated BOD of river Ravi as
high as 300 mg/l as compared to acceptable limit of
9 mg/l. Our industry imports chemicals worth Rs 4,500
million and dyes/colors worth Rs. 5,000 million every
year. About 525 types of chemicals are being imported
in the country for use in different processing industries.
Import data of 1997-98 indicates that industry imported
3,000 tonnes of formic acid (a carcinogenic chemical),
2,052 tonnes phenols, 4,200 tonnes isocyanides, 31
tonnes mercury, 22,817 tonnes inks/dyes, 234 tonnes
Arsenic,
1,615 tonnes chromium salt and so on. Local production
of chemicals is limited to only a few categories viz.
Soda
ash, sulphuric
acid, caustic
soda, chlorine,
fertilizers,
pesticides, paint/varnishes and polishes and creams.
All these chemicals are entering into the environment
every year. Their processing generates wastes and
pose potential risk to public health. A recent survey
of 150 industrial units in five potentially toxic
groups completed by EPAs in the three provinces, reported
extreme deviation from the levels prescribed in the
National Environmental Quality Standards. Another
survey carried out by Federal Environmental Protection
Agency showed that tanneries located in Kasure and
Sialkot
are discharging effluent with chrome concentration
ranging between 182-222 mg/litre against standards
of
1 mg/litre and Chemical Oxygen
demand ranging between 5002-7320 mg/litre against
limit of 150 mg/litre prescribed in the NEQS. A chromium
salt producing unit near Rawalpindi is reportedly
discharging chromium rich effluent in a water stream
causing severe implications for residents of the adjacent
areas. In such case, we have to differentiate between
NEQS violation and environmental crime.
Land Pollution
Pakistan
generates 47,920 tonnes of solid wastes per day (urban
waste: 19,190 tonnes rural: 28,730 tonnes). About
3,600 tonnes of chemical fertilizer is annually produced
in the country while 18,000 tonnes of pesticides are
imported each year. Collection efficiency of solid
wastes is about 54% in the urban centers. A total
of 9856 industries surveyed showed that they were
generating 21,175 tonnes of waste. These included
chemicals, fertilizers, tanneries
and textile units. Since none of the city in Pakistan
has proper waste collection and disposal system for
municipal or hazardous waste, land in urban areas
is getting polluted. Excessive use of pesticides has
adversely affected biomass of agriculture land. According
to NCS report 96% land has low biomass
Deforestation
According to Forestry Sector Master Plan (GoP), forests,
scrub and trees on farmlands cover 4.2 million hectares
or 4.8% of the country. The deforestation rate has
been estimated as 0.2-0.5% per annum-the world’s
second highest rate of deforestation.
Two recent studies revealed that Pakistan’s
woody biomass is declining at a rate of 4-6% per year.
The mangrove forests of Indus delta show a similarly
dramatic decline. The principal cause of deforestation
is the consumption of fuel wood and timber.
High Energy Consumption
Prosperity of a nation is function of its
energy self-dependence. We on the other hand, are
heavily dependent on imported oil and spend around
3 billion US dollars on oil importation. Coupled with
this, our energy use in characterized by high degree
of waste and inefficiency as we have one of the highest
energy intensity ratios in the world. The spiraling
energy costs continue to dampen the entire gamut of
economic activity. This trend needs to be controlled
if the country is to achieve the desirable GDP growth
levels. Energy Conservation offers an opportunity
that presents a workable solution to the above problems.
It is cost-effective alternate to conventional energy
supply options; it has short gestation periods; it
results in substantial foreign exchange savings and
it provides a strong news sustainable development.
Energy Conservation also offers a means to ensure
equitable access to energy to all sections of population
and thereby provides a basic element of the effort
to combat poverty. Energy Conservation has been given
the name of “Fifth Fuel”. Energy Conservation
is an intelligent and judicious use of energy without
sacrificing productivity, quality and comfort.
Urbanization
The urbanization
rate (4.5% per annum) is quite alarming and leading
to expansion of cities and towns. The NCS envisaged
that if the current trends were not reversed, our
cities will be predominant urban in the second decade
of the 21st Century.
Loss of Biodiversity
The ecological trend of greatest concern
in the country is the continuing loss, fragmentation
and degradation of natural habitats. This is affecting
with out exception forests, rangelands, and freshwater
and marine ecosystem. Of equal concern is the decline
in many native species of animals and plants. Some
species are already extinct, many are internationally
threatened, and more still are of national concern.
The degradation of agro-ecosystems and the accelerating
loss of domestic genetic diversity are areas that
need to be looked into (Biodiversity Action Plan of
Pakistan
2000). There are six fundamental causes of loss of
biodiversity: The unsustainably high rate of human
population growth and consumption Economic systems
that fail to value the environment and its resources
Inequity in the ownership, management and flow of
benefits from both use and conservation of biological
resources;
Deficiencies in knowledge and its application;
Legal and institutional systems that promote unsustainable
exploitation;
The steadily narrowing spectrum of traded products
from agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Vanishing Wildlife
The wildlife
experts are of the view that at least four mammal
species are known to have extinct from Pakistan within
the last 400 years. These include tiger, swamp deer,
lion
and Indian one-horned rhinoceros.
In the recent decade, cheetah
and hungul have also extinct. Blackbuck and Asiatic
wild ass are believed to be threatened with extinction
in Pakistan.
Implication of Tread -Environment Linkage
With the movement of trade liberalization,
WTO established trade linkages with environment. International
standards like ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 are recognized
as quality criteria for products and environmental
performance. International market demands environment-friendly
products but Pakistani export industry is not tuned
to meet this challenge and seek incentives from the
government to comply with the environmental standards.
Government and industrial associations are striving
to create awareness among entrepreneurs and promoting
adoption of ISO standards. On the other hand, industrial
sector in Pakistan
has serious problem of capital investment due to recession.
There is no line of credit available for adoption
of ISO standards or procurement of anti-pollution
technology.
Climate
Change
Average global temperature has been rising for more
than a century, either as a result of natural fluctuation
or from the build-up of greenhouse gases. Climate
change is likely to reduce biodiversity, and the goods
and services that ecosystem supply to Pakistan by:
Increasing desertification in arid and semi-arid areas;
Increasing seawater intrusion of the Indus delta with
a consequent
reduction in mangrove cover, and a loss of sandy beaches;
Increasing summer flooding in monsoon-affected areas;
The retreat of glaciers and an upwards shift in ecological
zones in the
Himalaya-Hindu
Kush-Karakorum ranges;
The desiccation and die-back of forests;
Reduced agricultural production; and
Changes in marine fisheries.
Drought
Pakistan is one of the countries affected by the drought
conditions prevailing in certain parts of south and
central
Asia. An estimated number of 42 million people
have been affected and the extent of damage has been
estimated at over one billion dollars. Worst hit are
the 32 districts of the country, which rely on seasonal
rains for crop irrigation. The wheat crop in these
districts has been damaged by 70 percent and millions
of domestic and farm animals have died. Effects of
water scarcity in Sindh have not only threatened crop
yields, they have even resulted in lowering the supply
of drinking water to urban areas including Karachi.
Similarly in the case of the Balochistan
province, in many cities, including its capital, Quetta,
water table has receded by up to 3 m adversely affecting
the discharge of bore-wells supplying drinking
water to these cities.
Involuntary Resttlement
In Pakistan, a number of laws give and protected
the proprietary rights, and the rights to access to
and use of natural resources. Laws have also been
promulgated at different occasions for different purposes
including urban and rural development, and for establishment
of authorities for implementation of these development
programmes that include acquisition of private properties
for the development of these programmes. The Land
Acquisition Act, 1894 (LLA) has been the most commonly
used law for acquisition of land and other properties
for development projects. Although it lays down detailed
procedures for the acquisition of private properties
for public purposes and their compensation, the LAA
or any other law of the land, however, does not cover
resettlement and rehabilitation of persons in a manner
perceived today.
Environmental Legislation
At independence, Pakistan inherited number of laws
from the colonial period that were converted to environmental
provisions. The constitution of 1973 mentions environmental
objectives in the preamble, but no specific law was
drafted at that time.
In 1983, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance
(PEPO) was passed. This highlighted the need to have
a framework of environmental law in Pakistan to address
emerging national issues. PEPO established the Pakistan
Environmental Protection Council (PEPC) and the Pakistan
Environmental Protection Agency, as well as introducing
the concept of Environmental Impact Assessments. It
is unfortunate that PEPO has remained largely unimplemented.
PEPC met in 1993 for the first time and approved National
Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) which later
forMulated the limits on major pollutants
in municipal and industrial liquid effluents, industrial
gaseous emissions, motor vehicle exhaust and noise.
The draft Environmental Protection Act, which lapsed
in 1996 after failing to be approved in the National
Assembly has recently been redrafted and unanimously
passed by the Assembly.
