NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT

INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PAPER

***

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION IN PAKISTAN – HOW TO

MINIMIZE IT AT THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL?

10TH MID CAREER MANAGEMENT COURSE

BY

MUHAMMAD ASIM HALIM

INCOME TAX GROUP

A paper submitted to the Faculty of the National Institute of Management (NIM), Lahore,
in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the 10th Mid-Career Management Course.

The contents of this paper are the end product of my own efforts and research and reflect
my own personal views and are not necessarily endorsed by the NIM.

Signature…………………………

Date: ……………………………..

Paper supervised by:

MS. SIJAL TAUSEEF KHAN

Directing Staff

I
 Preface

Suffering from socio economic issues, security problems from within and outside the country
and uncertain political arena our nation has positioned environment very low in priority. Quality
of life is considered prerogative of rich hence environmentalists in Pakistan are worried about
areas where elite reside. The task when assigned delighted me to the extent that it was one of my
cherished topics. However sailing through the subject was not as easy as was perceived. Much
has been written about environmental degradation in Pakistan, but little is known why every time
we have failed despite sound policies based on international standards. Like many other state
functions, we have failed to implement our policies. Resultantly our lofty plans remain hidden in
papers only.

The paper is an endeavor to analyze extent, causes, existing laws and bodies to control
environmental degradation in Pakistan and suggests recommendations how to improve our
environment for future generations. This study may act as basic reference for further research.
For this study secondary data and resources were the main focus gathered through internet and
information/literature received from resource persons from Ministry of Environment, Islamabad.

Dedication

I dedicate this piece of study to my family - parents, wife and children, who supported me during
busy schedule of training. I am deeply indebted to my supervisor Ms. Sijal Tauseef Khan who
guided me at every step in detail and polished the material I submitted each time to present it in
the current form. Without her support this research would have been a tedious job. I also offer
my profound gratitude to Course Instructor, Mr. Asim Majid Khan, other faculty members and
support staff at National Institute of Management, Lahore for providing congenial atmosphere
for research activity besides training, which is the main focus. I am grateful to Mr. Nadeem
Mehboob, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Islamabad, who was kind enough to
provide me relevant material from the ministry. I wish and pray for the success of the institute in
future.

II
 Executive Summary

Man made pollution is disturbing balance of nature of our planet and is having serious health
implications. Increase in population, vehicle usage and rapidly growing industrialization have
compelled every nation to safeguard our natural biosphere. On the one hand developing countries
are struggling towards rapid industrialization, increasing gross domestic produce at the cost of
environmental degradation, on the other some societies are trying to revert to natural ecosystem
and use bio products. In Pakistan environmental degradation has affected our ecosystem in many
ways. Water, air and soil pollution has damaged human, animal and sea life accentuating per
capita health cost and decreasing mortality rates. Laws are in place but implementation remains
sluggish. Our policy makers are aware of the situation but conservation of environment never
remained our priority. With our limited resources and inability of enforce laws and regulations,
containment of environmental degradation remains a challenge for the government. To protect
our environment this paper attempts to suggest guidelines for cost effective implementation of
public policies on sustainable basis.

III
 Abbreviations

CBC Community Based Conservation

EIA Environmental Impact Assessment

ENERCON National Energy Conservation Centre

GDP Gross Domestic Product

IEE Initial Environmental Examination

JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency

NEQS National Environmental Quality Standards

Pak EPA Pakistan Environment Protection Agency

PCDP Palas Conservation and Development Project

PCRWR Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources

PD Participatory Development

PEPC Pakistan Environmental Protection Council

POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants

WHO World Health Organization

IV
 Contents

Preface ........................................................................................................................................... II
Dedication ..................................................................................................................................... II
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... III
Glossary of Terms ............................................................................Error! Bookmark not defined.
Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1
Section 1: Extent of Environmental Degradation in Pakistan .................................................. 4
1.1 Situational Analysis ............................................................................................................. 4
1.2 Pollution in the Region ........................................................................................................ 4
1.3 Types of Pollution ................................................................................................................ 5
1.4 Water Pollution ................................................................................................................... 5
1.5 Industrial Pollution ............................................................................................................. 6
1.6 Urban Pollution ................................................................................................................... 7
1.7 Water Quality ...................................................................................................................... 7
1.8 Legal Framework to Protect Environment in the Country ............................................ 9
1.9 Agencies Responsible for Enforcement of Environment Related Laws ....................... 10
1.10 International Bodies/Treaties ......................................................................................... 14
1.11 Ongoing and planned clean-up initiatives/programs in the country .......................... 15
Section 2: Factors Causing Environmental Degradation ........................................................ 17
2.1 Low income levels of majority of population .................................................................. 17
2.2 Considering the importance of environment .................................................................. 18
2.3 Lack of community based conservation .......................................................................... 19
Section 3: Conclusions and Recommendations ........................................................................ 22
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................ 27

V
 Introduction

Environmental degradation affects every country of the world in way or the other. However in
Pakistan every kind of environmental hazard is rampant and affecting the socio economic fabric
of society. Pakistan is considered among most polluted countries of the world. Pollution in two
largest cities (Karachi and Lahore) is 20 times high than World Health Organization (WHO)
standards1. Being under the clutches of abject poverty, unemployment, social injustice, insecurity
and natural calamities, thought about remedial measures to control environmental degradation is
considered a luxury in Pakistan. At public and private level it is not a priority, hence practically
it is difficult to evolve and implement strategy for effective environmental control mechanism on
sustainable basis. In Asia, rapid urbanization, with the associated growth in industry and vehicle
use, has increased emissions of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Environmental pollution is
expected to rise if current development patterns persist with the current fashion.

Statement of the Problem:

It is evident that the situation of our ecosystem is too dilapidated and leaving at the mercy of
human interests would not protect our future generations. To consider whether it is possible to
protect our earth and especially our country from further damage, this research assumes that
environmental degradation can be minimized by taking various steps at the operational level.
Effects of various indirect variables would be analyzed and a strategy would be evolved to chalk
out a plan to save our future from further deterioration.

Significance and Scope of the Study

Extent of environmental decay and its effect on human and animal health has been the focus of
study since sensitization about the subject gathered attention. However practical failures and
strategy to implement policies and laws has never been considered an issue. Main problem in
Pakistan is not weakness in policy making but weak implementation of our policies and lack of
proper follow up or accountability. In such a situation it is pertinent to devise a self sustaining
plan which could bear the shocks of powerful mafia be it from business class or any political

1
http://www.yespakistan.com/forpakistan/fightpollution.asp

1
tycoon. Scope of this study is to know the extent of environmental pollution affecting our
environment i.e. air, soil, waters, to analyze the main causes of environmental degradation, find
out major factors affecting our environment, finding lacunae in the current system and suggest
measures to reduce environmental decay on sustainable basis. This study would also examine
legal cover available in our existing laws to protect our environment and to see how we have
failed to implement those laws and regulations. Future study on the subject may include
analyzing correlation of environmental decay with that of poverty, ignorance of laws, lack of
education and lack of awareness about civic responsibilities through statistical analysis.

Literature Review

There is no dearth of literature on environmental degradation, causes effects and remedies at the
international level and at national level. In this part literature review has been restricted to
research with reference to Pakistan. At stated earlier pollution and environmental hazard got
popular attention from early 1990s. The allied research also generated from that era.

Two studies conducted by JICA and Pak-EPA in 2000 and 2003 respectively, examined water
quality parameters of total Nitrogen, oil and grease, Ecoli, Arsenic, Copper, Chromium,
Cadmium, Lead and Zinc. Other parameters including flow rate temperature, pH, DO,
conductivity, odour, turbidity, and colour were also measured. The studies compared data for the
5 cities – Lahore, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad and Gujranwala against different standards
including Japanese, WHO, NEQS and standards set by USA and Indonesia.2

A study conducted by Pakistan EPA with the assistance of JICA in five major cities (Lahore,
Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and Islamabad) revealed that the inhalable suspended
particulate matter in the ambient air reached to 6-7 times higher than the WHO acceptable limits.
The study also established that 40 percent effect of suspended particulate matters was due to
vehicular emissions while rest was due to industry and natural resources.

Hellquist (2005) examined the problems of nature conservation in the Third World. A Pakistani
community-based conservation project, the Palas Conservation and Development Project

2
Brief on Water Pollution, Pakistan Environment Protection Agency, Government of Pakistan

2
(PCDP), a field study was conducted to elicit the preferences of the benefactors and of the
beneficiaries, i.e. the PCDP staff and the locals of the Palas Valley in which the project operates.
The results show that the preferences of the PCDP staff and the Palasi locals diverge. In
particular, locals stress physical infrastructure as being the most important PCDP objective,
while the PCDP staff considers attitude changes among locals most important.3

World Bank reports revealed that the mean annual estimated cost of environmental and natural
resource damage is about 365 billion rupees per year or 6percent of GDP. Cost of indoor air
pollution is about Rs. 67 billion, whereas urban air pollution adds another Rs. 65 billion. Urban
air particulate pollution is estimated to cause around 22,000 premature deaths among adults and
700 deaths among young children. The total health costs are between Rs. 62-65 billion, or
approximately 1 percent of GDP.4

As the study includes whole of the country impact of environment degradation and
recommendations to minimize the menace requires thorough analysis of literature available,
facilities available and to find out weaknesses for a viable solution. Hence for the purpose of this
study primary data includes interviews with various government functionaries and secondary
data includes research by various public and private institutions.

In this paper introduction portion provides the concept of environmental degradation describing
definition and types of various forms of environmental pollutions. It also provides scope of the
study and study of literature review. Section 1 gives situational analysis by discussing extent of
various forms of environmental degradation in Pakistan. Analyzing gravity of the situation the
need arises for devising effective control mechanism. Section 2 analyzes factor leading to present
situation. And Section 3 concludes the discussion with reference to previous sections and
suggests practical methods to controls and save our atmosphere at operational level to make our
country a safer place for future generations.

3
Alexander Hellquist, ―Are divergent preferences between benefactors and beneficiaries an obstacle to community-
based conservation? A case study of the Palas Valley, northern Pakistan‖, Masters Thesis Department of Economics,
Lund University, (2005)
4
Strategic Country Environment Assessment, The World Bank, 2006

3
 Section 1: Extent of Environmental Degradation in Pakistan

Environmental degradation has affected our country’s biosphere in three ways i.e. soil, air and
water in the form of sound, hazardous chemicals, industrial wastes, emission of poisonous gases
from motor vehicles etc. The menace has affected human, animal and plant life in a number of
ways. Due to pollutants in the air, water and soil, many diseases have spread like epidemic and
affected the quality of life of the masses. Patients affected by the environmental hazards are
rising in number rapidly. It is therefore required that the problem is felt and addressed not only at
government level but also at community level and efforts are made to eliminate the pollutants
collectively so that we can clean our environment for future generations.

1.1 Situational Analysis

Environmental degradation has many manifestations. Inadequate supply of safe drinking water,
global warming, rise in sea level, contaminated rivers and canal leading to pollutants reaching
human and animal life from agricultural produce to name few. In Pakistan prior to 1990
environmental degradation and pollution was not considered a major concern. Similarly supply
of safe drinking water, sanitation, soil degradation, sea pollution and other related issues also
received little attention. For instance till 1987 only 6 percent of rural population and 51 percent
of urban population had access to sanitation; till 1990 approximately 80 percent of the population
had no access to toilet facility. Some success has been noticed in providing drinking water to
majority of the population. However, medical researchers recognized the fact that a large number
of diseased are caused by drinking polluted water and found that water considered safe is not
potable. The population having access to supply of drinking water are risking their lives due to
intake of heavily contaminated water. In Punjab, for example, as much as 90 percent of drinking
water comes from groundwater, as compared with only 9 percent in Sindh.5

1.2 Pollution in the Region

Atmosphere of South Asia is already under the adverse impact of Brown clouds (Accumulation
of Dirty gases in upper atmosphere of Indo-Pak Subcontinent having negative effects on the
health of population of India and Pakistan. Moreover due to depletion of Ozone gas in the upper

5
http://www.mongabay.com/history/pakistan/pakistan-pollution_and_environmental_issues.html

4
atmosphere of South Asia people of South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) are
not having perfect healthy bodies as compared to other parts of the world. In such an alarming
condition of atmosphere burning the coal adds fuel to the fire. An example is coal mines of
Baluchistan where many poor workers are dying daily in the coal mines but no one is concerned
about their health. There are a number of adverse environmental effects of coal mining and
burning, especially the glaciers of the Himalayas, Karakoram, Hindukush and Pamir ranges in
Gilgit-Baltistan contribute significantly to the stream flow of the Indus Basin. More significantly,
during the dry season these glaciers become the system’s only source. Impacts due to climate
change on these glaciers have been studied in recent decades and vivid fluctuation of water flow
in the Indus River Basin System has been reported6.

1.3 Types of Pollution

Various types of environmental pollution include pollution due to domestic and industrial
effluents, improper solid-waste management, inadequate hospital and hazardous-waste disposal,
industrial and vehicular air pollution, improper use of pesticides, POPs7, arsenic and other impurities
in drinking water, noise pollution and deforestation.

Air pollution consists of substances present in the atmosphere in high enough levels to harm
humans, other animals, plants, or materials. Air pollution can result from human activities such
as driving cars. It can also come from natural sources, such as smoke from forest fires caused by
lightning or from volcano eruptions.8

1.4 Water Pollution

The water resources in Pakistan are under continuous stress due to rapid urban growth, increased
industrial activity and dependence of agriculture on fertilizers and pesticides. The shortage of
water has led to decrease in carrying capacity of water bodies to assimilate and decompose
wastes. This has also resulted in deterioration in water quality and contamination of lakes, rivers
and ground water. In 2004, Pakistan stated a population growth rate of 1.9 percent while the
projected figures reached 173 million by 2010 and 221 million by 2025. These estimates suggest

6
http://greenanswers.com/q/132432/science-technology/earth-science/environmental-science/what-are-some-
environmental- problems
7
Persistent Organic Pollutants
8
http://www.wwfpak.org/factsheets_aps.php

5
that the country would slip below the limit of 1000m3 of water per capita per year from 2010
onwards. The situation could get worse in areas situated outside Indus basin where annual
average is already below 1000m3 per head.9

1.5 Industrial Pollution

The pressures on water resource caused by the industrial growth also merit discussion due to
their significant contribution to water pollution problems. Only a marginal number of industries
furnish environmental assessment – 91 percent of multinational and 5 percent of national
industries. The national quality standards specifying permissible limits of wastewater are seldom
adhered to.

Most industries in the country are located in or around

major cities and a recognised as key sources of increasing
pollution in natural streams, rivers, as well as the Arabian
Sea through discharging toxic water. The contamination
of shallow groundwater near industrial plants has been an
area of concern as groundwater pollution is often
permanent and it may take 100s or even 1000s of years

for pollutants such as toxic metals from the tanneries to Figure 1: Industrial Wastes

be flushed out of a contaminated aquifer.

In Pakistan, only one percent of wastewater is treated before being discharged directly into rivers
and drains. For example in NWFP, 80,000 m3 of industrial effluents containing a very high level
of pollutants are discharged every day into the river Kabul causing observable incident of skin
diseases, decrease in agricultural productivity and decrease in fish population.10

Sugarcane based industry, the second largest in the country, is another major cause of industrial
pollution due to large volume of wastewater containing high pollutant concentration. The
product, distilled alcohol, is meant for the local market and export. The number of persons
directly or indirectly connected with the industry is about 10 million. There are now 76 factories

9
Brief on Water Pollution, Pakistan Environment Protection Agency, Government of Pakistan
10
Ibid.

6
and a study of 4 distilleries showed that the ratio of the quantity of wastewater to the quantity of
sugarcane used per day (m3 tonnes) varies between 0.4 and 2. The installed capacity is 360,000
tonnes of sugarcane per day and its is estimated that the industry operates at 64 percent of its
capacity. The wastewater generated is of the order of several hundred thousand m3 per day. The
wastewater is most often discharged directly into the drains or rivers. The pollution problem
being sever in distilleries, they have, as a general rule, a storage system for wastewater, but as
these systems are not well constructed the wastewater is discharged into the irrigation canals.

The tanneries are another source of large-scale pollution. In 2002, EPA Sindh initiated action
against the tanneries located in the Korangi industrial area, in Karachi. The construction of a
common wastewater treatment plant, co-financed by the government (export promotion council
and the embassy of Netherlands, was started by the tanneries jointly in 2003. the second phase of
project consists of introducing clean production techniques. Of the 170 tanneries concerned only
85 do not cooperate in this scheme.

Another source of pollution is the textile industry. Only the recent agreement of WHO contain
sufficiently strong inducement to install a wastewater treatment system, indispensable to satisfy
international standards. In terms of the generating environmentally damaging pollutants, textile
processing industry is at the top of the list due to its size, followed by leather tanning, cement,
chemicals and paper and pulp industries.

1.6 Urban Pollution

The pollution by urban wastewater is very high. Two million tones of urban excrement are
produced every year and almost half of this ends up in the water. The area covered by sewerage
system is still very low in Pakistan, only 54percent in 2002. Moreover, where sewers exist, and
that too often open, they are built in close proximity to the water distribution pipes, which leads
to contamination due to leaks.

1.7 Water Quality

The first national study on the quality of water was carried out by Pakistan Council of Research
in Water Resources (PCRWR) in 21 cities, 6 rivers and 10 reservoirs and lakes. Bacterial
contamination is very frequent in the country, particularly with the pressure of coliforms. In 17

7
cities, bacterial contamination is greater than 50percent and in 4 of these cities, 100percent of the
samples were considered as unsuitable for human consumption. The inorganic contamination is
also very high, particularly with fluorites, iron, sulphur and sulphates. A second study was
launched in 2004 and preliminary results indicated that no appreciable improvement has been
made in the above described conditions.

Table 1: Water Quality of Rivers, Dams and Lakes

Source pH Turbidity (NTU) TDS (mg/l) Coliform E.Coli

(MPN/100ml) (MPN/100ml)
Simly Dam 8.2 6 192 > 16 > 16
Rawal Dam 7.9 24 208 > 16 > 16
Sutlej River 7.5 694 580 > 16 > 16
Mangla Dam 8.2 4 93 > 16 > 16
Ravi River 7.5 670 127 > 16 > 16
Lahore Canal 7.6 647 126 > 16 > 16
Swat River 7.3 36 46 > 16 > 16
Indus River 7.6 76 84 > 16 > 16
Kabul River 6.1 774 120 > 16 > 16
Khanpur Dam 8.1 2 222 > 16 > 16
Tarbela Dam 7.9 52 94 > 16 > 16
Hanna Lake 7.5 11 385 > 16 > 16
Hub River 7.2 6 756 > 16 > 16
Hub Dam 7.2 5 743 > 16 > 16
Hamal Lake 7.3 12 4652 > 16 > 16
Manchar Lake 7.6 134 5318 > 16 5
Torkhezai Dam 7.7 400 150 > 16 > 16
Jhelum River 7.8 419 132 > 16 > 16
Chenab River 7.6 580 115 > 16 > 16
Chashma Lake 7.8 183 132 > 16 > 16
Source: Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources

The situation is even more critical in areas where in 113 out of 120 districts, less than half the
population has access to proper drinking water and in 30 districts the figure is less than
10percent, the most critical situation is found in Punjab (16 districts). It is estimated that 40
million residents depended on irrigation water for their domestic use, especially in areas where
the groundwater was brackish. The contamination of irrigation water by coliforms exceeds the
limits set by WHO11 for unlimited irrigation and therefore exceeds the limits for drinking water.

11
World Health Organization

8
Contamination by arsenic is becoming a serious problem. In Punjab and Sindh approximately
36percent of population is exposed to level so contamination higher than 10ppb and 16percent is
exposed to contamination of 50ppb.12

1.8 Legal Framework to Protect Environment in the Country

Pakistan’s Environmental Policy is based on participatory approach to achieving objectives of

sustainable development through legally, administratively and technically sound institutions. The
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency 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 environment cases.

Soon after the enactment of new law, Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural
Development set its priorities to operationalize its provisions. The following series of actions
were taken:

1- Rules and Regulations

The following rules and regulations are in place:

a. National Environmental Quality Standards (Self-monitoring and Reporting by

Industries) Rules, 2001
b. Environmental Sample Rules, 2001
c. Provincial Sustainable Developmental Fund Board (Procedure) Rules, 2001
d. Pollution Charge for Industry (Calculation and Collection) Rules, 2001
e. National Environmental Quality Standards (Environmental Laboratories
Certification) Regulations, 2000
f. Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Regulations, 2000

12
Brief on Water Pollution, Pakistan Environment Protection Agency, Government of Pakistan

9
 g. National Biosafety Rules, 2005
h. Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2005
i. Provincial Sustainable Development Fund (Utilization) Rules, 2002
j. Composition of Offences and Payment of Administrative Penalty Rules, 2002
k. Hazardous Substance Rules, 2002
2- Delegation of Powers to Provincial Governments

Ministry of Environment had delegated functions and powers of it and the Federal
Environmental Protection Agency under section 26 of the Act to the provincial governments.
The provincial governments have further delegated these powers and functions to Environmental
Protection Agencies and also planning to sub-delegate selected powers to local government.

3- Establishment of Environment Tribunals

4- Designation of Environmental Magistrates
5- Certification of Environmental laboratory
6- Establishment of Sustainable Development Board/Fund

1.9 Agencies Responsible for Enforcement of Environment Related Laws

Ministry of Environment is the focal point on the subjects of Environment, Ecology, Human
Settlement and Forests in Pakistan. In terms of Rule 3(3) of Rules of Business of 1973, the
Government has allocated the following business to the Ministry of Environment:
1. National policy, plans and program regarding:-
i. Environmental Planning, Pollution and Ecology;
ii. Housing, Physical Planning and Human Settlements including urban water
supply, sewerage and drainage.
2. Dealings and agreements with other countries and international organizations in the fields of
Environment, Housing, Physical and Human Settlements.
3. Quaid-I-Azam Memorial Fund.
4. Economic Planning and Policy making in respect of Forestry and Wildlife.
5. Administrative control of:-
i. Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA)

10
 ii. Pakistan Forest Institute (PFI).
iii. Zoological Survey Department (ZSD).
iv. Quaid-I-Azam Mazar Management Board (QMMB).
v. National Energy Conservation Center (ENERCON)
vi. National Council for Conservation of Wildlife in Pakistan (NCCW).
In addition, the Pakistan Environmental Planning and Architectural Consultants Limited
(PEPAC) was incorporated in 1974 to provide town planning and architectural consultancy
services for projects initiated by the government, semi-government and autonomous entities. It is
a limited Company and is managed by a Board of Directors.

Projects

 AJK Poverty Reduction through Participatory Watershed Development

 Development of Forestry sector Resources for Carbon Sequestration in AJK
 Development of Forestry Sector Resources for Carbon Sequestration in Punjab
 Environmental Rehabilitation and Poverty Reduction through Participatory Watershed
Management in Tarbela Reservoir Catchments Area
 Environmental Rehabilitation Through Improvement Promotion of Indigenous Tree Species
in South AJK
 Forestry Sector Research and Development Project
 GEF Protected Area Management Project.
 Implementation of Management Plan for Ayubia National Park, District Abbotabad
 Planting of blank areas of Khanewal Irrigated Plantation
 Program for Mountain Areas Conservation NA's, Chitral, AJK

Under Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 (PEPA 1997) a council has been established
which will supervise implementation of the act, approves comprehensive national policies,
approve National Environmental Quality Standards, provide guidelines for protection of
environment, consider National Environment Report and give appropriate directions and direct
any federal or provincial agency to prepare and submit or implement projects for the protection,
conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment.

PEPA 1997 also establishes an agency to administer and implement this Act and the rules and
regulations made there under. The EPA shall also prepare and publish an annual National

11
Environment Report on the state of the environment. The agency is also entrusted to prepare the
National Environmental Quality Standards with approval of the Council and also ensure its
enforcement13.

Pesticides are regulated under the Agricultural Pesticides Ordinance, 1971 and Rules 1973.
These Rules establish the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for carrying out the
registration. This Committee obtains detailed information about the product including name,
composition, active ingredients, efficacy, residue, toxicological and eco-toxicolical data, labeling
and direction of use as well as methods for analysis, disposal of surplus pesticides and
packaging. If safety and efficacy requirements are met a registration is granted. The registration
is renewed periodically.
Apart from the regulation of pesticides, no other mechanism exists for controlling POPs in
Pakistan. First steps for regulating dioxin emissions are proposed in a draft legislation relating to
Hospital Waste Management Rules, where incineration of hospital waste is to be regulated.
Pakistan ratified the Basel Convention on Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Waste and
their Disposal in 1994 and is a signatory to the Rotterdam Convention (1997) for the Prior
Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for Banned or Restricted Chemicals in International Trade.
Pakistan has developed a National Profile for Chemicals, published in October 2000, with the
assistance of UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research).14

Environment Protection Department Punjab

Environment Protection Department, Government of the Punjab being an administrative body

works in accordance with its functions as defined under the Punjab Government Rules of
Business. The Environmental Protection Agency Punjab functions under the provisions of
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997. The department claims to play a direct and
indirect role in improving the plight of the common man and to bring about visible change in the
society. Mission of the department is the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and
improvement of the environment through prevention and control of pollution and promotion of
sustainable development in Punjab. Its functions include action against polluters, issuance of

13
http://www.environment.gov.pk/
14
http://portal.ics.trieste.it/Portal/ActivityDocument.aspx?id=2966

12
EPA-NOC, providing financial assistance to NGO for various projects to control pollution.
Various projects to conserve nature and control pollution are in progress15.

Cleaner Production Program (CPP)

Cleaner Production Program (CPP) is Dutch funded project, which has targeted the
implementation of cleaner technologies in major industrial sectors of Pakistan. The program
aims to consolidate and replicate the successes of cleaner technologies implementation
experience in Pakistan. Further to this, the program plans to disseminate the local experience to a
larger audience in general and specially to the target industry sectors. The program aims to
prepare major industrial sector specific environmental policies16.

National Energy Conservation Centre (ENERCON)

National Energy Conservation Centre (ENERCON) is an attached department of the Ministry of

Environment, Government of Pakistan. ENERCON was established in 1987 and serves as the
national focal point for energy conservation/energy efficiency activities in all sectors of
the economy, namely industry, agriculture, transport, building and domestic.

The strategy adopted by ENERCON for promoting Energy Conservation spans a whole spectrum
of activities, starting from identification of energy conservation opportunities and including
technology demonstration, undertaking pilot projects, information and outreach, training and
education, and development of plans and policies for promoting energy efficiency17.

Self Monitoring And Reporting Tool (SMART)

Self-Monitoring and Reporting System will make the country’s industry owners and operators
responsible for systematic monitoring and reporting of their environmental performance. By
implementing this system, the government will, in fact, transfer the responsibility for examining
and evaluating industry’s environmental performance to individual industrial facilities. Apart
from saving EPAs considerable expense, time and effort, this measure will enable industry to

15
http://pportal.punjab.gov.pk/portal/portal/media-type/html/group/341/page/default.psml?nav=home
16
http://www.nec.com.pk/Projects/CPP.asp
17
http://www.enercon.gov.pk/

13
make long-term provisions for eco-friendly production. The reported data will also enable
government agencies to assist industrial units in controlling their pollution levels18.

1.10 International Bodies/Treaties

The World Conservation Union (IUCN-Pakistan)

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions
to our most pressing environment and development challenges. It supports scientific research,
manages field projects all over the world and brings governments, non-government
organizations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop
and implement policy, laws and best practice.

IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental network - a democratic membership
union with more than 1,000 government and NGO member organizations, and almost 11,000
volunteer scientists in more than 160 countries.

IUCN’s work is supported by more than 1,000 professional staff in 60 offices and hundreds of
partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. The Union’s headquarters are
located in Gland, near Geneva, Switzerland19.

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)

UNEP is the United Nations system’s designated entity for addressing environmental issues at
the global and regional level. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental
policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues
to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The mandate and
objectives of UNEP emanate from: UN General Assembly resolution 2997 (XXVII) of 15
December 1972; Agenda 21, adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development
(the Earth Summit) in 1992; the Nairobi Declaration on the Role and Mandate of UNEP, adopted
by the UNEP Governing Council in 1997; the Malmö Ministerial Declaration and the UN
Millennium Declaration, adopted in 2000; and recommendations related to international

18
http://www.environment.gov.pk/smart/site/index1.html
19
http://www.iucn.org/

14
environmental governance approved by the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development
and the 2005 World Summit20.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Pakistan)

Pakistan was formed in 1970 to address the growing environmental and conservation issues in
Pakistan that not only affected the flora and fauna, but were also affecting the human population.
For the first fifteen years, it was a small organization which relied on individuals for financial
support and honorary scientific input. It was in the late 80s that the first formal project for
environmental education was started. Since then, the programs of WWF – Pakistan and its staff
have expanded rapidly to increase its conservation efforts. WWF - Pakistan works through 31
offices with a team of approximately 340 staff members. WWF's mission is to stop the
degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in
harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of
renewable natural resources is sustainable and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful
consumption21.

1.11 Ongoing and planned clean-up initiatives/programs in the country

Besides government and international bodies working at the federal and provincial levels,
various non governmental organizations with or without foreign support are working to preserve
our nature. Few of these bodies have been discussed below22:

• The German Technical Co-operation Agency, GTZ, and the Dutch Embassy have funded
projects identifying obsolete stockpiles and their subsequent destruction. The first phase of
final disposal of these stocks has already taken place by incineration of 62 tons from NWFP
and 323 tons from Punjab. The incineration was conducted in Europe.
• UNDP has funded a Project for the Preparation of the POPs National Implementation Plan
under the Stockholm Convention. Objective of the project is to strengthen capacity and build
ownership in Pakistan to meet its obligations under the Stockholm Convention, including
preparation of a POPs National Implementation Plan. The plan will describe how Pakistan

20
http://www.unep.org/
21
http://www.wwfpak.org/
22
http://portal.ics.trieste.it/Portal/ActivityDocument.aspx?id=2966

15
 will meet its obligations under the Convention to phase-out POPs sources and manage POPs
contaminated sites. The project’s aim is to enable Pakistan to ratify the Stockholm
Convention and become a Party to the same.
• Air University has planned to establish a Centre of Excellence and a Cleaner Production Centre
having capability to address the issue of contaminated water and soil remediation with the
assistance of ICS-UNIDO.

16
 Section 2: Factors Causing Environmental Degradation

Analysis of the gravity of dilapidated environmental situation demands in depth study of factors
negatively affecting the environment and polluting our natural biosphere. Matter is not restricted
to economic situation of the country but also relates to understanding of the situation. In urban
areas many affluent persons pour liter openly without caring the atmosphere. Vested interests of
business class and feeling of disobeying law as something superior in society worsens the
situation. Absence of monitoring mechanism and implementation strategy also plagues the
situation. In the following paragraphs few such issues have been discussed.

2.1 Low income levels of majority of population

It has been studied that income and valuation of environmental goods are correlated. Most
studies suggest that income elasticity regarding environmental quality is positive but less than
one (Kriström & Rioera 1994). The Krutilla-Fischer model acknowledges the positive correlation
between income and valuation of environmental goods. It also suggests that goods produced by
exploiting natural resources have close substitutes and that the substitution possibilities will
increase with time and technological progress, while the natural resources themselves lack close
substitutes.

Another model that incorporates differing preferences concerning the environment between rich
and poor people is the Environmental Kuznet's Curve (EKC). It visualizes the relation between
the gross domestic product (GDP) and environmental damage as a U-turned upside down. Poor
and less developed societies have a low level of industrial activity and thus cause less harm to
the environment. As this society grow and develop the GDP rises, environmental damage
increases to a maximum level and then start declining. This decrease can be explained by a
combination of increasing production efficiency and changes in social preferences (Brännlund &
Kriström 1998). Technological progress leads to increased choices between production and
improved environmental quality. As production increases, the marginal utility from consumption
decreases leading to rise in the marginal utility from environmental quality. Hence, people’s
preferences change from consumption of goods and services in favor of environmental quality.
Some evidence for the EKC may also be found when looking at environmental aid to poor

17
countries. Tarp & Hjertholm (2000) summarize how preferences change in terms of comparative
advantage and marginal utility from developed to developing countries.

According to classical microeconomic theory human consumers maximize their own utility, also
in regard to environmental goods. However, Sen (1987) argues that human preferences are
affected by what is considered to be good for the society as a whole, even though this may not
increase the personal utility of the individual. Sen denotes the phenomenon commitment - an
expression of the citizen role of the individual. The feeling of commitment may differ between
poor and rich countries, perhaps depending on educational levels, trust in the state etc, and this
could explain differences in preferences regarding the environment.23

2.2 Considering the importance of environment

Eliciting people’s preferences regarding the environment is often difficult, as environmental

goods are usually not traded in markets. However, over the last few decades, techniques for
valuing the environment have evolved. These techniques are not uncontroversial, and some
commentators argue that it is impossible to measure the environment in monetary terms in a
reasonable way and that the sense of objectivity given by ―price tags‖ put on environmental
goods is dangerous (Perman et al 1999, Jakobsson & Dragun 1996).

The original and still most prominent reason for valuing environmental goods is to improve cost-
benefit analyses (CBA). Negative and positive environmental effects from human activities
should be internalized in order to allocate resources efficiently (Brännlund & Kriström 1998).
Valuation of environmental goods for inclusion in CBA has been performed for some thirty
years. More recently, two other reasons have emerged. The first is national accounts
acknowledging environmental values, e g ―green GDP‖. The second is the need for basic data
when establishing fines in court cases concerning illegal destruction of the environment (Perman
et al 1999).

The environment provides humans with four main services (based on Perman et al 1999, p 400):

23
Amartya Sen, (1987), The Standard of Living: The Tanner Lectures, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

18
Life-support services (L)
Resource inputs to production (I)
Sinks for the assimilation of wastes generated in production and consumption (W)
Amenity services (A)

Which are then the values arising from these services? The total value (TV) of an environmental
good can be subdivided into four categories (based on Perman et al 1999, p 402):

 Use-value (UV) arises from the actual and/or planned use of the service. An environmental
good can provide use-values even if it is not used up (e g recreation).
 Existence-value (EV) arises from knowledge that the service exists and will continue to exist,
independently of any actual or prospective use by the individual.
 Option-value (OV) relates to willingness to pay to guarantee the availability of the service for
future use by the individual.
 Quasi option-value (QOV) relates to willingness to pay to avoid an irreversible commitment
to development now, given the expectation of future growth in knowledge relevant to the
implications of development.

Thus, TV = UV + EV + OV + QOV. Sometimes EV, OV and QOV are lumped into a single
category of non-use values. One, some or all categories may be zero for some individuals. OV
and QOV arise only where there is incomplete knowledge of future conditions (which is usually
the case regarding the environment).24

2.3 Lack of community based conservation

To involve local communities in development work has become a keystone in the development
discourse. The phenomenon is called participatory development (PD) (synonymous terms are
new development and people-centered development), while local participation in nature
protection specifically is denoted community-based conservation (CBC) (a synonymous term is
new conservation). PD is widely considered a paradigm shift, from ―forced‖ development as
24
Alexander Hellquist, ―Are divergent preferences between benefactors and beneficiaries an obstacle to community-
based conservation? A case study of the Palas Valley, northern Pakistan‖, Masters Thesis Department of Economics,
Lund University, (2005).

19
prescribed by neo-classical growth models to a development based on a dialogue between
development institutions and local communities (e g Chambers 1997). CBC implies a change
from conservation based on nature reserves with limited access to conservation based on
sustainable management of natural resources (Brown 2003).

Participation is a multidimensional concept, and as such hard to grasp. Rudqvist (1991) mentions
three fundamental dimensions of PD:

 Beneficiary participation in different phases of the project cycle (planning,

implementation, monitoring and evaluation).
 Beneficiary participation in the different project tasks (construction, operation,
maintenance and management).
 Level of beneficiary participation with regard to decision making and control over project
resources, functions and benefits.

The level of participation can be measured on a five-grade scale as follows (based on Rudqvist
1991 and Mikkelsen 1995):

1. Passive participation (beneficiaries receive information, e g through education).

2. Active participation (beneficiaries provide information and viewpoints to project planners
and staff).
3. Beneficiaries select between different development options provided by the project.
4. Beneficiaries have decision power with respect to some or all project aspects (―development
on demand‖).
5. Beneficiaries initiate project tasks and share responsibility for the management of the project
and control project resources.

Some empirical studies have shown that CBC can be successful (e g Mehta & Kellert 1998, Dhar
et al 1999). However, there are critical views. Brown (2003) argues that ―new conservation could
be thought of as an attempt to re-label and re-package conservation and to get people on board
existing strategies‖ (p 89). Campbell & Vainio-Mattila (2003) argue that a major problem in
CBC is that the objectives are not people-centered as in other PD projects. Even if CBC attempts
to combine human development and nature protection, the latter aspect has priority in trade-off

20
situations. Oates (1999) even argues that CBC implies eco-colonialism in a new disguise.
Knudsen (1999) shows that CBC has been problematic to apply in a Pakistani context. The
creation of the Khunjerab National Park in the Northern Areas failed to recognize the interests of
affected locals even though a co-management approach was tried.

21
 Section 3: Conclusions and Recommendations

From discussion in previous sections it is crystal clear that the problem of environmental

degradation has interrelated factors causing and affecting the multi dimensional problem.

Targeting only one will not solve the issue. A multi pronged approach with participation from

three levels i.e. government level, community level and individual level, would be needed to

chalk out a long term plan. Policies and agencies are more than sufficient but will to enforce laws

is lacking.

At government level more effective law enforcement and levy of high penalties on pollutants are

two ways of using the power of state laws to instill a greater awareness on pollution. When

people realize that their actions can land them to economic loss there will be an increase in

preventative measures aimed at making our world a cleaner place to live in. Wherever possible,

visible monitoring should be carried out for predominantly uneducated masses. Law enforcement

agents should be deployed to various water bodies in particular and residential areas in general to

monitor dumping activities.

At community level an awareness campaign is needed

to inculcate the feeling that the locality we live in is

like our house. We should be concerned about its

cleanliness, care of public facilities, cleanliness of

roads, streets and parks. Most important of all is to

educate that waste should be dumped in containers

provided by local administration. Figure 2: Dumping Wastes in Streets

22
In figure 2 a common practice of dumping waster

outside the specified place has been shown. This

malpractice pollutes the environment and makes job of

solid waste management workers more tedious.

Nothing can be done without educating masses which

is a long term phenomenon. In first phase guidance

Figure 3: Waste Disposal System of CDGL
may be made through pamphlets and advertisements in

newspapers. Community lectures may be arranged in each area. In the second phase putting a

fine upon delinquents would be appropriate which again would need community involvement for

reporting and prohibiting. Another step is to ensure that sanitary workers are sufficient in number

and covering the area to clean the waste appropriately. Proper waste disposal minimizes the

spread of infections and reduces the risk of accidental injury to local community and helps

provide aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. It reduces odors and decreases the chances of

contamination of soil or ground water with chemicals or microorganisms.

At individual level we can take actions to help reduce pollution, such as, by using

environmentally friendly detergents, not pouring oil down drains, reducing pesticides, using

tuned up environment friendly vehicles, being cautious about our habitat, reporting each breach

of law to authorities concerned, and so on. We can take community action too, by helping out on

beach cleans or litter picks to keep our rivers and seas that little bit cleaner. And we can take

action as countries and continents to pass laws that will make pollution harder and the world less

23
polluted. Working together, we can make pollution less of a problem—and the world a better

place25.

One of the ways to deal with pollution considering the economic problem is to give out

marketable pollution permits. Marketable pollution permits are a combination of command and

control and market-based technique to the task of restricting pollution emissions. Major polluters

can bid for a permit that allows them to generate a fixed amount of pollution. These permits can

be resold: The government can systematically decrease the amount of pollution permits available

so that total pollution emissions can be controlled.26

Another way of dealing with pollution of water bodies is to stop the way of pollutants affecting

water bodies. That can be done by developing advanced destabilization procedures. Such

procedures must be aimed at burning possible waste before there comes the need to get rid of

waste the dirty way. Used grease and industrial pollutants normally dumped into rivers, dams,

seas and lakes must be rendered harmless using advanced destabilizing methods similar to those

used with biological weapons.

Increased awareness among general public is also important. This awareness campaign must start

from school level so that children have understanding about the damages of pollution and

competitions must also be started as a way of making people passionate about preserving the

precious water resource and atmosphere.

Television programs and radio shows can also bring positive change in people psyche about

feeling the gravity of the situation and instigating care to preserve our nature. The recent oil spill

25
http://www.explainthatstuff.com/waterpollution.html
26
http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Way-Dealenvironment-Pollution/168660

24
as covered by the media was successful in generating public support and opinion about the

seriousness of the situation.

One of the serious issues in government is the implementation problem. With half hearted

policies and weak implementation strategy, riddled with vested interests and plagued with

corruption our bureaucracy is facing many challenges. Tackling a broad issue of environmental

degradation a strong will with continuous commitment is required to restore our ecosystem.

Stopping pollution is possible when the right measures are implemented. But without

implementation the problem can only worsen.27

While the cases of land pollution from oil rigs or oil pipe lines is not that known there have been

instances where these oil spills have caused the environment massive damage. The cost to the oil

company is also very high. For this reason the different oil companies are now looking into

various other methods of transporting the oil to the refineries. They are also developing new

methods of cleaning up the land pollution that is caused by the oil spills. A few of these methods

involve the use of naturally biodegradable substances. These substances are designed to soak up

the oil that is lodged in the surface and under the soil. As a result of using products like the land

pollution effects from land oil spills can be reversed. The land is then free to begin re-growing.

The vegetation and the water table will become clear of any oil.28

Most environmental experts agree that the best way to tackle pollution is through something

called the polluter pays principle. This means that whoever causes pollution should have to pay

to clean it up, one way or another. Polluter pays can operate in all kinds of ways. It could mean

that tanker owners should have to take out insurance that covers the cost of oil spill cleanups, for
27
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=V_K_Rajagopalan
28
http://www.bestglobalwarmingarticles.com

25
example. It could also mean that shoppers should have to pay for their plastic grocery bags, to

encourage recycling and minimize waste. Or it could mean that factories that use rivers must

have their water inlet pipes downstream of their effluent outflow pipes, so if they cause pollution

they themselves are the first people to suffer. Ultimately, the polluter pays principle is designed

to deter people from polluting by making it less expensive for them to behave in an

environmentally responsible way.29

To counter global warming there is need to completely restrict use of coal for any purpose and to

minimize other fossils fuels such as oil and gas and use of alternatives resources such as wind,

solar and water power by means of dams like Kalabagh and Basha Dams in Pakistan should be

encouraged and preferred.

We have to make choices whether we want to have unbridled industrialization or a sustainable

growth with protected environment. We have to think about saving sea life and coastal areas

instead of wasting sweet water and spill of oil and other pollutants. We have to preserve our

ecosystem by conserving forests, parks and lakes instead of rapid urbanization and unabated use

of wood. We have to save clean water and restrict its wastage in our daily life. After all life is all

about choices and decisions made at the right time.

29
http://www.explainthatstuff.com/waterpollution.html

26
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Missed for Lessons Learned?‖, Human Ecology 31 (3) (2003): 417-437

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***

27