KINNAIRD COLLEGE FOR WOMEN UNIVERSITY,

LAHORE

POST-MID FINAL PROJECT

SUBMITTED BY: Hamna Ali

Dua Mirza

Ayesha Masood

Isra Shafqat

Kashaf Nadeem

Eisha Bazmi

SUBMITTED TO: Ma’am Amber Fatima

SEMESTER: 2

DATE OF SUBMISSION: 15th July, 2020

COURSE TITLE: Environmental Education

TOPIC: Major Environmental Issues of Pakistan

Table of Contents
Introduction
Environmental Issues
Pollution
Land Pollution
Water Pollution
Air Pollution
Noise Pollution
Light Pollution
Deforestation
Soil Erosion
Smog
Solid Waste Disposal
Overpopulation
Immigration
Natural Disasters
Climate Change
Solutions of Environmental Issues
Conclusion
References
 INTRODUCTION

Like most of other south Asian countries, traditionally, Pakistan’s economy has been centered
on agriculture. However, in the recent past, manufacturing and services have also emerged as
major contributing sectors. The share of manufacturing sector is 30%. With the increasing
industrial & agricultural activities, energy demands, urbanization, traffic density and population
growth, the degradation of all segments (air, water & land) of environment is alarmingly
increasing and remains a grave concern. The unsound management of chemicals, especially in
the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, have further compounded the environmental issues.
20% of the registered industries in Pakistan are considered highly polluting. Under the Self-
monitoring and reporting program for industry in Pakistan, in category A (most hazardous) there
are 23 & 11 industrial sectors for industrial effluents and gaseous emission, respectively. Major
industries/clusters are in textiles, leather, steel, oil refineries & mills, chemicals, ceramics,
pharmaceuticals and food. Most of these are located in Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad,
Lahore, Peshawar and Rawalpindi cities. More than 10 industrial states are functional and a few
new ones are in development.

The effect that humanity is having on the environment is becoming ever-more important.
Through our actions we are destroying habitats and endangering the lives of future generations.
At this point there is no denying the fact that our environment is changing. Hundreds of studies
have been conducted to demonstrate that this is happening and it is having an effect on life
around us. However, many may be unaware of the specific issues that have led to these changes.
Terms like “climate change” and “genetic modification” are commonplace, but without
additional information it is difficult to see why they actually matter. To complicate the matter,
many of these issues are linked to one another. The key is that they are all important challenges
that need to be confronted.

Here we examine the biggest environmental problems facing our planet today and why they
should matter.
 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Industrial waste water discharge from industries in the country has been estimated at 6.25 (in
2010) to a projected value of 12.50 million cubic meters per annum (in 2025). A combined
pollution load in waste water discharged to inland water bodies has been estimated at 28.6 (in
2010) to a projected value of 58.6 million tons/annum. Degradation of water quality, both for
human consumption and irrigation, due to industrial waste water discharge with high pollution
load and its resulting impacts on public health and environment are most obvious. In a recent
survey of 38 polluted sites in the country, it was shocking to observe, waste water from the
industrial estates and industrial units being discharged into agriculture fields mostly for cash
crops but also in a few, for food crops and vegetables, both on large and small scales. Water and
soil are known and well established pathways for toxic chemicals (metals, non-metals &
organics) getting into food chain and ultimately into human bodies, besides, to a lesser extent
through air. There are 37 industries identified and assessed in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa and
Sindh. Two polluted sites were identified and assessed in and around Islamabad. Nine priority
polluted sites for which immediate remediation actions are required. Industrial chemicals
manufacturing and use, obsolete pesticides stocks and hospital wastes are main potential sources
of hazardous wastes in the country.

Substantial quantum of hazardous industrial wastes is also released by old/expired ship-breaking

yards and non-formal industrial sectors, including very small scale recycling units run by un-
skilled and illiterate labor, which are scattered across the country. To the best of accessible
information, district based inventory of these by district/provincial EPAs are yet to be developed.
Air pollutants can be transported across states and national boundaries, therefore pollutants
produced by one country, as well have adverse impacts on the environment of neighboring
countries. Trans-boundary air pollution, which is also impacting some areas of Pakistan, as
evident by increased fog in winter months, is an emerging environmental issue that demands
critical attention. Down-wind areas of the countries are likely to be affected more than the
upwind areas (8) The impact of climate change on chemicals characteristics, hazardous wastes
and sites and the resulting impacts on environment and public health have been little realized in
Pakistan and other developing countries. The high temperature and low precipitation would
enhance volatile chemicals levels in the air and the increased evaporation would enhance non-
volatile chemicals levels in water bodies and soil. The low temperature and high
precipitation/snow fall would transport back air pollutants to water bodies and land. Enhanced
air, water and land pollution due to climate change and in the event of high flood, the spread of
hazardous wastes dumps into cities/towns at the polluted sites could play havoc with the
environment and health of the population of the climate change affected areas of the country.

Most Polluted Sites in Pakistan:

KPK:

1. Depleted Pesticides Dump, Jamrud Rd.

2. Hazardous Waste Dumping Site Salhad.

Sindh:

1. Kimiyari Coal Dumping Site, Karachi.

2. Haji Daryan Khan Panwar Hyderabad

Punjab:

1. Younis Nagar, Kasur

2. Moosa Wirk, Mian Channu Distt. Khanewal

3. Shah Town, Sameejabad, Multan.

4. Pir Shah Wala, Basti Darkhaana, Multan

5. Chenab Drain, Nishat abad, Faisalabad

6. Rohail Garah, Sialkot

POLLUTION

Pollution is the process of making land, water, air or other parts of the environment dirty and not
safe or suitable to use. This can be done through the introduction of a contaminant into a natural
environment, but the contaminant doesn't need to be tangible. Things as simple as light, sound
and temperature can be considered pollutants when introduced artificially into an environment. 

Toxic pollution affects more than 200 million people worldwide, according to Pure Earth, a non-
profit environmental organization. In some of the world's worst polluted places, babies are born
with birth defects, children have lost 30 to 40 IQ points, and life expectancy may be as low as 45
years because of cancers and other diseases. Read on to find out more about specific types of
pollution.

Environment pollution is a wide-reaching problem and it is likely to influence the health of

human populations is great. This paper provides the insight view about the effects of
environment pollution in the perspective of air pollution, water and land/soil waste pollution on
human by diseases and problems, animals and trees/plants. Study finds that these kinds of
pollutions are not only seriously affecting the human by diseases and problems but also the
animals and trees/plants. According to author, still time left in the hands of global institutions,
governments and local bodies to use the advance resources to balance the environment for living
and initiates the breathed intellectuals to live friendly with environment. As effective reply to
contamination is largely based on human appraisal of the problem from every age group and
contamination control program evolves as a nationwide fixed cost-sharing effort relying upon
voluntary participation.
 LAND POLLUTION

Land pollution is degradation or destruction of the Earth’s surface and soil, directly or indirectly,
as a result of human activities.

Causes and Effects of land pollution

Land pollution may in turn slowly destroy our natural environment, which is already at risk.
Waste generated from polymers is a major contributor to land pollution. Polymer waste is
generally dumped in open spaces and become a breathing space for mosquitoes and flies. This
results in unhealthy environment and epidemic diseases. It is therefore, necessary to manage or
recycle these wastes. An efficient practice may be to incorporate polymer waste in mortar. This
paper investigates the possibility of using different polymers in cement mortar to produce
thermal resistant mortar. Polymers selected for study are scrap polyvinyl chloride pipes (PVC
pipes) and raw material of polyethylene terephthalate bottles (PET bottles). Scrap rubber tire
waste is also not recyclable or reusable and only 5% of tire waste is recycled rest is dumped into
open grounds, which again is hazardous to environment. In this study performance of mortar
incorporating 10%, 20% and 30% polymers as volume replacement of fine aggregate was
investigated. Results showed that incorporating polymer waste in mortar increases thermal
resistance of mortar, compressive strength on the other hand is deteriorated. Based upon findings
of the experiments performed it can be concluded that polymers can be used in mortar to increase

its thermal resistance and subsequently reducing environmental pollution.

Land can become polluted by household garbage and by industrial waste. Organic material was
the largest component of the garbage generated. Paper and paperboard accounted for more than
26%; food was 15% and yard trimmings were 13%. Plastics comprised about 13% of the solid
waste, while rubber, leather and textiles made up 9.5% and metals 9%. Wood contributed to
6.2% of the garbage; glass was 4.4% and other miscellaneous materials made up about 3%.
Commercial or industrial waste is a significant portion of solid waste.
 WATER POLLUTION

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human

activities. Water bodies include for example lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers and
groundwater. Water pollution results when contaminants are introduced into the natural
environment.

Causes and Effects of Water pollution

Water pollution is one of the major threats to public health in Pakistan. Drinking water quality is
poorly managed and monitored. Pakistan ranks at number 80 among 122 nations regarding
drinking water quality. Drinking water sources, both surface and groundwater are contaminated
with coliforms, toxic metals and pesticides throughout the country. Various drinking water
quality parameters set by WHO are frequently violated. Human activities like improper disposal
of municipal and industrial effluents and indiscriminate applications of agrochemicals in
agriculture are the main factors contributing to the deterioration of water quality. Microbial
and chemical pollutants are the main factors responsible exclusively or in combination for
various public health problems. This review discusses a detailed layout of drinking water quality
in Pakistan with special emphasis on major pollutants, sources of pollution and the consequent
health problems. The data presented in this review are extracted from various studies published
in national and international journals. Also reports released by the government and non-
governmental organizations are included.

Water pollution happens when chemicals or dangerous foreign substances are introduced to
water, including chemicals, sewage, pesticides and fertilizers from agricultural runoff, or metals
like lead or mercury. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 44% of
assessed stream miles, 64% of lakes and 30% of bay and estuarine areas are not clean enough for
fishing and swimming. The EPA also states that the most common contaminants are bacteria,
mercury, phosphorus and nitrogen. These come from the most common sources of contaminates,
that include agricultural runoff, air deposition, water diversions and channelization of streams.

According to United Nations, 783 million people do not have access to clean water and around
2.5 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation. Adequate sanitation helps to keep sewage
and other contaminants from entering the water supply.

Warming water can also be harmful. The artificial warming of water is called thermal pollution.
It can happen when a factory or power plant that is using water to cool its operations ends up
discharging hot water. This makes the water hold less oxygen, which can kill fish and wildlife.
The sudden change of temperature in the body of water can also kill fish. According to
the University of Georgia, it is estimated that around half of the water withdrawn from water
systems in the United States each year is used for cooling electric power plants. .

Nutrient pollution, also called eutrophication, is another type of water pollution. It is when
nutrients, such as nitrogen, are added into bodies of water. The nutrient works like fertilizer and
makes algae grow at excessive rates. The algae blocks light from other plants. The plants die and
their decomposition leads to less oxygen in the water. Less oxygen in the water kills aquatic
animals.

AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances are introduced into
Earth's atmosphere. Sources of air pollution include gases, particulates, and biological molecules.
Causes and Effects of Air pollution

Nowadays air over major cities throughout the world has become over burdened with gases
produced by automobiles. The death rate due to automobiles pollution is increasing rapidly in the
metropolitan areas. With passage of time people realized that polluted air had serious effects on
their health, climate and economics. Weather and climate have the integrated impact on human
activities which are resulting in worldwide concentration of the particulate of environmental
pollution viz.
chloroflorocarbons (CFCs), carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide, lead and several other dust
and gaseous particles.The rapid growth in motor vehicle activity in Pakistan and other rapidly
industrializing
low-income countries is contributing to high levels of urban air pollution, among other adverse
socioeconomic, environmental, health, and welfare impacts. This paper first discusses the local,
regional, and global impacts associated with air pollutant emissions resulting from motor vehicle
activity, and the technological, behavioral, and institutional factors that have contributed to these
emissions, in Pakistan.
The paper then discusses some implementation issues related to various policy measures that
have been undertaken, and the challenges of the policy context. Finally, the paper presents
insights and lessons based on the recent Pakistan experience, for better understanding and more
effectively addressing the transport air pollution problem in Pakistan and similar countries, in a
way that is sensitive to their needs,
capabilities, and constraints.
 NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollution, also known as environmental noise or sound pollution, is the propagation of
noise with ranging impacts on the activity of human or animal life, most of them harmful to a
degree. The source of outdoor noise worldwide is mainly caused by machines, transport, and
propagation systems.

Causes and Effects of Noise pollution

Karachi is facing an enormous problem of exceedingly high levels of traffic noise, which is
significantly higher than all the available international data. Vast number of people is at risk of
developing noise induced hear- ing loss, Psychological, Cardiovascular or other sys- temic
disorders in due course of time.

Even though humans can't see or smell noise pollution, it still affects the environment. Noise
pollution happens when the sound coming from planes, industry or other sources reaches harmful
levels. Research has shown that there are direct links between noise and health, including stress-
related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference, hearing loss. For example, a study
bythe WHO Noise Environmental Burden on Disease working group found that noise pollution
may contribute to hundreds of thousands of deaths per year by increasing the rates of coronary
heart disease. Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA can regulate machine and plane noise.

Underwater noise pollution coming from ships has been shown to upset whales' navigation
systems and kill other species that depend on the natural underwater world. Noise also makes
wild species communicate louder, which can shorten their lifespan.
 LIGHT POLLUTION

Light pollution is excessive, misdirected, or obtrusive artificial (usually outdoor) light. Too

much light pollution has consequences: it washes out starlight in the night sky, interferes with
astronomical research, disrupts ecosystems, has adverse health effects and wastes energy.

Causes and Effects of Light pollution

Most people can't imagine living without the modern convenience of electric lights. For the
natural world, though, lights have changed the way that days and nights work. Some
consequences of light pollution are:

Some birds sing at unnatural hours in the presence of artificial light. 

Scientists have determined that long artificial days can affect migration schedules, as they allow
for longer feeding times. 

Streetlights can confuse newly hatched sea turtles that rely on starlight reflecting off the waves to
guide them from the beach to the ocean. They often head in the wrong direction. 

Light pollution, called sky glow, also makes it difficult for astronomers, both professional and
amateur, to properly see the stars.

Plant's flowering and developmental patterns can be entirely disrupted by artificial light. Light
pollution could also be making smog worse by destroying nitrate radicals that helps the
dispersion of smog. Turning on so many lights may not be necessary.
 DEFORESTATION

Deforestation is the permanent

destruction of forests in order to utilize
the land or trees. Typically, deforestation
is clearing a lot of trees without the
intention of establishing future growth.

Causes

 Mining

The increase of mining on tropical forests is furthering damage due to the rising demand and
high mineral prices.

 Paper 

America, China, Japan, and Canada make up more than of the world’s paper production—400
million tons a year. Approximately 640 million trees represent the paper that’s thrown away each
year, according to the Environment Paper Network.

 Overpopulation

Due to overpopulation, more land is needed to establish housing and settlements. 

  Climate Change

Forests are essentially the lungs of our planet .Tropical rainforests are extremely humid due to
the water vapor released along with the oxygen. But when a forest is cut down, the humidity
levels decrease and causes the remaining plants to dry out. 

Effects

 Soil Erosion and Flooding

Further effects of deforestation include soil erosion and coastal flooding. Trees help the land to
retain water and topsoil, which provides the rich nutrients to sustain additional forest
life.Without forests, the soil erodes and washes away, causing farmers to move on and perpetuate
the cycle. 

 Increased Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Trees help to mitigate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, but they become
carbon sources once they’re cut, burned, or otherwise removed. It’s estimated that deforestation
is responsible for around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions and 1.5 billion tons of carbon is
released every year by tropical deforestation.

Loss of Species.

 Orangutans, giant pandas, rhinos, and the Asian elephant are just a few of hundreds of
endangered species due to deforestation.
Loss of Habitat

One of the most dangerous and unsettling effects of deforestation is the loss of animal and plant
species due to their loss of habitat. 70% of land animals and plant species live in forests. Not
only does deforestation threaten species known to us, but also those unknown

Case study

This case study describes the deforestation that took place in Pakistan due to foreign invaders
and urbanization. In

the early 1200s, banana cultivation began to take off. The farmers cleared the forests to open
space for grain fields and banana groves. This reduced the trees in the area, but the crops that
grew allowed for an increase in the population. Pakistan moved ahead of the rest of Pakistan in
the early 1900s. At this time Pakistan started their industrial revolution while the rest of Pakistan
expanded on merchant capital. This industrial revolution caused the need for flat land for mining.
As the gold and diamond mines went up, so did profits and deforestation. Drastic deforestation
took place during the 1930s. The observers scared the locals by claiming that desertification and
permanent degradation of the soil was taking place. The locals panicked and started a
conservation movement. The colonial governments attempted to ban the burning of trees and
dried piles of brush in order to stop the deforestation. In the 1950s, the natives showed the
government that the burning was not harming the environment. The fires that the natives set
made it easier for the animals to graze and ended up helping the vegetation build up. The late
1900s brought new trees, which are currently still growing, in Pakistan. The trees that used to be
there can no longer grow due to soil degradation. Many are afraid that there will be
desertification in Pakistan soon if these trees are not taken care of because these trees consume
too much water.

SOIL EROSION

Soil erosion is defined as the

wearing away of topsoil. Topsoil is
the top layer of soil and is the most fertile because it contains the most organic, nutrient-rich
materials. One of the main causes of soil erosion is water erosion, which is the loss of topsoil
due to water.

Causes

The causes are:

Farming

Agriculture is probably the most significant activity that accelerates soil erosion because of the
amount of land that is farmed and how much farming practices disturb the ground Farmers
remove native vegetation and then plow the land to plant new seeds. Because most crops grow
only in spring and summer, the land lies fallow during the winter. Of course, winter is also the
stormy season in many locations, so wind and rain are available to wash soil away. Tractor tires
make deep grooves, which are natural pathways for water. Fine soil is blown away by wind.

Grazing

Grazing animals wander over large areas of pasture or natural grasslands eating grasses and
shrubs. Grazers expose soil by removing the plant cover for an area. They also churn up the
ground with their hooves. If too many animals graze the same land area, the animals’ hooves pull
plants out by their roots. A land is overgrazed if too many animals are living there.

Construction

Constructing buildings and roads churns up the ground and exposes soil to erosion. In some
locations, native landscapes, such as forest and grassland, are cleared, exposing the surface to
erosion (in some locations the land that will be built on is farmland). Near construction sites, dirt,
picked up by the wind, is often in the air. Completed construction can also contribute to erosion

Effects

Deforestation and Flooding

Deforestation -- the removal of trees to create room for cities and farming -- erodes soil.  Trees
help hold soil in place , so when they're uprooted, winds and rains push the loose soil and rocks
to streams and rivers, again resulting in unwanted sedimentation. The heavy layers of
sediment keep streams and rivers from flowing smoothly, eventually leading to flooding .
Excess water, especially during rainy seasons and when the snow melts, gets trapped by the
sediment and has nowhere to go except back on land.

Pollution and Poor Water Quality

The gradual erosion of soil creates sedimentation, a process by which rocks and minerals in the
soil separate from the soil and deposit elsewhere, often lodging in streams and rivers.
Pollutants in the soil, such as fertilizers and pest control agents used to protect crops, also settle
in the streams and rivers. Water pollutants result in poor water quality -- including the quality
of drinking water if the pollutants aren't removed before consumption.

Sedimentation also leads to the excessive growth of algae, as sunlight can get through the
sediment. High levels of algae remove too much oxygen from the water, resulting in the death
of aquatic animals and reduced fish populations , according to the World Wildlife Fund.

Soil Degradation
The degradation of nutrients in soil is often a result of poorly conducted farming and
agricultural practices that lead to soil erosion. Excessive irrigation and outdated tilling
practices reduce the amount of nutrients in the soil and make it less fertile for natural
vegetation and agricultural purposes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency,
agricultural methods, such as purposely leaving organic matter in the soil and ensuring that at
least 30 percent of the previous year's crop residue  remain in the soil, increase the fertility and
vitality of the soil. In some cases, seeds can be planted directly in the previous year's crop
residue without any further tillage.

Case study

In certain areas of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas (HKH), ecological situation is depleting day by
day and approaching to the point of no return through gradual environmental degradation.
Surface soil erosion from most of the areas is a serious threat to sustainable agriculture and
sediment accumulation in down stream reservoirs. An extensive study in the Hilkot watershed, a
catchment of Terbala Dam, was started by the People and Resource Dynamics Project in 1998.
Main objectives of this study were to calculate annual runoff and soil losses from different land
uses and compare their seasonal distribution at plot level. Four experimental plots based on land
use classification (i.e. degraded, forests, agricultural, and pasture lands) were established. Area
falls in the monsoon region, about 38% rainfall occurred in the monsoon period (July to
September), while in the pre-monsoon (March to June) and the winter period (October to
February) received 35% and 27% of the total rainfall, respectively. The annual rainfall in the
watershed was 1160 mm. The runoff and soil loss pattern varied among different land use types.
In all the erosion plots, almost 50% of the runoff and soil loss occurred during the monsoon
period and was negligible during winter. The mean maximum runoff was from the degraded plot
(674 m3/ha/y), while minimum was observed from the pasture plot (310 m3/ha/y). Average
runoffs on other land uses were 529 and 460 m3/ha/y, from the forest and agriculture plots,
respectively. Annual soil loss from all land uses ranged between 0.3 to 16.3 t/ha. Average
maximum soil loss was recorded from the degraded plot (6.5 t/ha/y) and average minimum (1.8
t/ha/y) was on the pasture plot. Similarly, average soil from other plots was 3.3 and 3.4 t/ha/y,
measured from the forest and agricultural plots, respectively.

SMOG

Smog is a type of intense air pollution. The word "smog" was coined in the early 20th century,
and is a contraction of the words smoke and fog to refer to smoky fog; its opacity, and odor. This
kind of visible air pollution is composed of nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, ozone, smoke and
other particulates. Man-made smog is derived from coal combustion emissions, vehicular
emissions, industrial emissions, forest and agricultural fires and photochemical reactions of these
emissions.

Causes

The causes for smog are as follows:

  Ground level ozone and fine particles are released in the air due to complex
photochemical reactions between volatile organic compounds (VOC), sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
 Sunlight and its heat react with these gases and fine particles in the atmosphere, smog is
formed.
 These VOC, SO2, and NOx are called precursors. The main sources of these precursors
are pollutants released directly into the air by gasoline and diesel-run vehicles, industrial
plants and activities, and heating due to human activities.
 Often caused by heavy traffic, high temperatures, sunshine, and calm winds.
 During the winter months when the wind speeds are low, it helps the smoke and fog to
become stagnate at a place forming smog and increasing pollution levels.

“Some of the sources for this smog include vehicular pollution with very poor fuel quality being
used along with lack of pollution control technologies in our vehicles, industrial pollution,
burning of municipal and even industrial waste and brick kilns which again use dirty fuel such
as rubber tyres,” says a person who also the Environment and Climate Change Department at
the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad.

(Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2019)

Effects

Respiratory Health: Studies show that air pollutants contain chemical substances that cause
direct damage to the lungs inner lining and prevent DNA repair of an already damaged inner
lining. Moreover, research shows that the presence of air pollutants in our airways paralyses the
cilia. Up to 35% of total deaths occur due to lung related diseases, caused directly or indirectly
by air pollution, making it the world’s largest health risk. 
Cardiovascular Health: Research has found strong independent association of exposure to
ambient air pollutants with development and
progression of cardiovascular disease and risk factors.
In the context of Pakistan, it is critical to realize the
magnitude of the difference in air quality between
countries where these studies were done and air quality
in Pakistan.

Mental Health: Particulate matter in the atmosphere

gets absorbed into the bloodstream and interfere with
the functioning of our brain and the nervous system.
This can include lack of concentration, memory
problems, and difficulty in emotional regulation,
leading to decreased productivity of the workforce.
Mental health professionals working in Pakistan have also observed an increased rate of relapse
in patients affected by mental illness with the change of weather and air quality.

Early childhood development: The respiratory compromise directly affects the neuro-
development element in children.

Statistics

Pakistan had the fifth most polluted air in the world in 2016, caused by emissions from vehicles,
industrial activity such as brick kilns, factories, and power plants, and crop burning.

In 2016, 98 percent of Pakistan’s over 200 million people lived in areas where the annual
average particulate pollution level exceeded the WHO guideline.

The areas of Pakistan that face the worst are located along its eastern border, particularly in the
province of Punjab. The most polluted district in the province, as well as in the country, is
Lahore, with a population of 11 million. Air quality in Lahore has declined over the last two
decades. In Faisalabad, Pakistan’s third-largest city, residents lose an average of 4.8 years,
relative to the WHO guideline.
The Pakistani government has begun to respond to the air pollution challenge. In 2017, the
government of Punjab took measures to ban crop burning and enforce emissions regulations on
factories and vehicles. They also shut down coal-fired power plants to control short-term air
pollution, although this led to power outages.

In 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan came into power and told his cabinet that pollution “is a
serious issue that must be addressed.” Following a court order, his government began to restart
or install air quality monitors. Khan also shuttered factories in 12 highly-polluted districts for
two months in winter, and pushed brick kiln owners to shift to cleaner technologies. Some kiln
operators were fined for using the dirtiest technologies, as have some farmers for their crop
burning. The government is considering setting higher emissions standards for vehicles.

SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL

The solid waste management in Pakistan continues to be an

issue of grave concern. Yearly, 20 million tons of waste is
generated roughly in Pakistan. It is disillusioning to note that
Karachi generates more than 9000 tons of municipal waste on
a routine basis. All big cities of Pakistan such as Islamabad,
Peshawar and Lahore are confronting severe issues in
handling the problem of waste management. Heaps of garbage
and trash in different parts of different cities portray a dismal picture of the Islamic Republic,
which fails to adhere to Islamic teachings advocating cleanliness and hygiene as half faith.

Causes

Pakistan is the 6th most populated country, more waste is being produced than the number of
facilities available to manage it.

 No proper waste collection system

  Lack of awareness among citizens
 Inefficient bureaucracy
 Obsolete infrastructure
 There are no controlled sanitary landfill sites. Opening burning is common.
 Employment of corrupt individuals in the department of waste management
 Lack of political will 
 Increase in the population
 Most common types of waste affecting the environment are solid (municipal), industrial
and hospital waste.

Effects

The unavailability of proper disposal methods and resources for solid waste managing results in
various environmental and human health hazard effects. Problems can spread over a wide area.

Health Hazards

 Skin and eye infections are common

 Dust in the air at dumpsites can cause breathing problems in children and adults
 Flies breeding on rotting garbage, spread diseases like dysentery, typhoid, cholera
 Mosquitoes transmit many types of diseases like malaria and yellow fever
 Dogs, cats and rats around refuse carry a variety of diseases including plague
  Intestinal, parasitic and skin diseases are found in workers engaged in collecting refuse

Ground Water Pollution

As water filters through any material, chemicals in the material may dissolve in the water, a
process called leaching. The resulting mixture is called leachate. As water percolates through
Solid Waste, it makes a leachate that consists of decomposing organic matter combined with
iron, mercury, lead, zinc, and other metals from rusting cans, discarded batteries and appliances.
It may also contain paints, pesticides, cleaning fluids, newspaper inks, and other chemicals.
Contaminated water can have a serious impact on all living creatures, including humans, in an
ecosystem.

Air Pollution

When waste is burnt heavy metals like lead, toxic gases and smoke spreads over residential
areas. The wind also carries waste, dust and gases caused by decomposition. Waste rotting in
sunlight during daytime results in bad smells and reduced visibility.

Case Study

In Lahore, the capital of Punjab and the second largest city in Pakistan, there are currently no
controlled waste disposal facilities are formal recycling systems, though roughly 27% of waste
(by weight) is recycled through the informal sector, Lahore does not have very high performing
governmental management in the waste management situation.
Instead, the City District Government Lahore established the Lahore
Waste Management Company and left the responsibility of the Solid
Waste Management in Lahore to them. Beginning in 2011, Lahore
Waste Management Company strives to develop a system of SWM
that ensures productive collection, recovery, transportation,
treatment and disposal of the waste in Lahore.

Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has over 10,000 field workers involved in waste
collection and disposal. Though the LWMC is working in phases, 100% collection rates are not
seen yet. Lahore currently only has three disposal sites which are no more than dumps, where
illegal dumping and trash burning is common. However, there is some resource recovery taking
place. It is estimated that 27% of dry recyclables are informally recycled within the city.
Additionally a composting plant converts 8% of waste into compost.

In general, the governance over the Waste Management in Lahore is hardly present. Though
there are current projects and plans taking place, by the Lahore Waste Management Company for
example, in order to achieve a productive and sustainable system in the city it is necessary for all
service providers (formal, private, and informal) to take part in decisions and actions.

OVERPOPULATION

Overpopulation In Pakistan

The current world population is about 7.7 billion and increasing at a higher pace. The population
of Pakistan was approximately 100 million; however, the current population of Pakistan is about
210 million. It is expected that the population of
Pakistan can cross 300 million by 2050, which is an
alarming situation for Pakistan.

Due to a high increase in the population, Pakistan is

facing serious challenges like shortage of water,
electricity, jobs infrastructure, public transportation,
health, education law and order, and other social
issues are prevailing in the society. The population is a big threat for Pakistan. China has reduced
the birth rate and controlled the growth rate of population in a decent way.

Several factors are responsible for this population explosion in Pakistan:

  A single person cannot support his family in developing countries like Pakistan. He
assumes that if he has more children there will be more earning hands to support the
family.
 Due to illiteracy, people are not aware of the economic problems caused by a high birth
rate. Lack of thorough religious knowledge and some self-made beliefs also contribute.
 Family planning available in Pakistan isn’t that effective. Most of the people are not
familiar with the methods of family planning further they feel hesitation to consult for
that as well.
 Getting married at an early age like between 16 to 22 years in Pakistanis infect increases
the duration for re-productivity in a woman’s life.
 Sometimes competition among the family members in accordance with the family size
especially in the joint family system is one of the causes.
 Polygamy is the condition or practice of having more than one wife at one time. The
existence of polygamy also contributes to the increase in population. People feel the pride
to have a large family.
 Lack of recreational facilities and employment opportunities in Pakistan is also a
contributing factor. The only recreational activity a couple can have is passing time
together.

IMMIGRATION

Immigration to Pakistan refers to the settlement of foreign nationals in Pakistan. Immigration policy is

overseen by the Interior Minister of Pakistan through the Directorate General Passports. Most
immigrants are not eligible for citizenship or permanent residency, unless they are married to a
Pakistani citizen or a Commonwealth citizen who has invested a minimum of PKR 5 million in the local
economy. Based on the United Nations report World Population Policies 2005, the total immigrant
population in Pakistan was estimated to be 3,254,000, representing 2.1% of the national population, and
ranked 13th in the world.

Afghan Refugees
As of 2017, approximately 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees are in Pakistan while around
1.3 million unregistered Afghan Refugees are also living in Pakistan.  They are expected to leave
Pakistan and return to Afghanistan in the coming years. They are mainly found in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) areas, with small numbers
in the cities of Karachi and Quetta. Most of this group were born inside Pakistan in the last 30
years.
Illegal immigrants

In 2012, a Pakistani official claimed that five million illegal immigrants live in Pakistan. Since
early 2002, Pakistan's government took steps to determine the number of illegal immigrants in its
country. The National Alien Registration Authority (NARA) started registering illegal
immigrants in January 2006. According to NARA, there were an estimated 1.8 million illegal
immigrants in Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi in 2007. Others believe that there may be
about 3.35 million illegal immigrants in Pakistan. As of January 2010, the number of illegal
immigrations in Karachi was estimated to be between 1.6 and 2 million. Thousands of nationals
from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Jordan,
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan are illegally living in
Karachi. This includes thousands of Muslim students from Thailand,
the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia studying in the Pakistani madrasahs, while thousands of
women from Bangladesh and Burma are working as maids and prostitutes there; most of them
are illegal aliens.

NATURAL DISASTERS

Pakistan is exposed to a variety of natural hazards. The most damaging are cyclones, droughts,
earthquakes, floods, and landslides. In 2005, a high magnitude earthquake caused the greatest
destruction and loss recorded in the country’s history: 6,700 people died; indirect income losses
totaled $576 million; and relief, recovery, and reconstruction cost $5.2 billion.

Natural disasters, including reoccurring flooding, pose a major financing challenge. Flooding

causes an estimated annual economic impact of 3–4 percent of the federal budget. In 2010,
unprecedented flooding affected the entire length of the country, devastating 78 districts and
affecting over 20 million people. A GFDRR-supported damage and needs assessment estimated
$10 billion for recovery and reconstruction. In 2011, severe flooding affected 9.6 million people,
many of whom were still recovering from the previous year.The impacts of climate change are
projected to increase the frequency and severity of these events. Primary hazards include,

 River Flood.
 Coastal Flood.
 Landslide.
 Urban Flood.
 Cyclone.
 Wildfire.
 Water Scarcity.
 Extreme Heat.

Earthquakes: 

Pakistan lies within a seismic belt and therefore suffers from frequent small and medium
magnitude earthquakes (GSP 2001). Earthquakes commonly occur along the Himalayas
and Karakorum ranges and parts of Hindu Kush in the north of the country, in the Koh-e-
Suleiman Range in the west with Chaman fault line along Quetta, Zob and Mekran fault
line affects Gawadar district along the sea of the south-west coast.

Cyclones:

 According to the World Disaster Report 2003, the 960 km long coastal belt of Pakistan
is occasionally battered by cyclones causing widespread loss to life and property,
especially in the coastal districts of Gawadar, Badin and Thatta.

Floods:

 Pakistan is one of the five South Asian countries that have the highest annual average
number of people physically affected by floods (UNDP 2001). The alluvial plains of the
Indus river system formed as flood plains and remain vulnerable to recurrent flooding.
Riverine floods occur during the summer monsoons. Flash floods and landslide hazards
 occur frequently in the northern mountains. Districts along the Indus plain are
particularly affected by riverine floods, while hill torrents tend to affect the hilly districts
located in the northern and western parts of Pakistan.

Drought:

 Pakistan is one of the countries that is expected to be hit hardest by the effects of
global warming, and drought is one of the possible consequences of global warming
resulting in a sharp fall in water table levels and drying up of wetlands (PMD 2002).
Districts along the south-western and eastern parts of Pakistan have become severely
affected by drought.

CLIMATIC CHANGE
Climate change is expected to cause wide reaching effects on Pakistan. In addition to increased
heat and other extreme weather conditions and drought conditions in some parts of the country,
the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas, threatens the volumetric flow rate of many of the most
important rivers of Pakistan. The foremost hazardous evidence is the rise of carbon dioxide in
out atmosphere. As per NASA’s scientific evidence, for a millennium, the level of carbon
dioxide (parts per million) was below 300, which started to rise since 1950, and is now above
400. Secondly, as per NASA’s evidence, the planet’s average surface temperature has risen about
1.62 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, a change driven largely
by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere. Most of the
warming occurred in the past 35 years, with the five warmest years on record taking place since
2010. This is also established by the United Nations’ report, prepared by the World
Meteorological Organisation, on September 22, 2019. It states that the period “is currently
estimated to be 1.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial era of 1850-1900, and 0.2 degrees
Celsius warmer than 2011-2015”.

The oceans are getting warmer, and ice sheets are shrinking. As per NASA, the oceans have
absorbed much of this increased heat, with the top 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) of ocean
showing warming of more than 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969. The Greenland and Antarctic
ice sheets have decreased and have lost an average of 286 billion tons of ice per year between
1993 and 2016, while Antarctica lost about 127 billion tons of ice per year during the same time
period. The rate of Antarctica ice mass loss has tripled in the last decade.

The glaciers are melting and sea level is rising. Around the globe, the glaciers are retreating
including in the Alps, Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska and Africa. The global sea level rose
about eight inches in the last century. The rate in the last two decades, however, is nearly double
that of the last century and is accelerating slightly every year.

Pakistan’s water cycle is the primary affected area of climate change. Agriculture is one of the
major sectors likely to be adversely affected by climate change. Climate change can disrupt food
availability, reduce access to food, and affect food quality. Projected increases in temperatures,
changes in precipitation patterns, changes in extreme weather events, and reductions in water
availability may all result in reduced agricultural productivity. Seasonal smog is also due to
climate change and pollution.
Pakistan has also suffered economically due to climate change. According to experts, Pakistan
has faced around 150 freak weather incidents as a result of climate change in the past 20 years:
flash floods, smog in winter, forest fires in summer, melting glaciers, freaky heatwaves,
landslides, displaced population. During the floods in 2010-11, almost 10 percent of Pakistan’s
population was displaced in two provinces, one in the north and another in the south. Last year,
the cost of extreme weather as a consequence of climate change was listed at $384 million; in the
past 20 years, there has been a cost of almost two billion dollars to the national economy because
of the ravages of climate change.

There are other drastic evidences of climate change. Arctic sea ice is declining rapidly. Disturbed
rainfalls and extreme weather events have increased. Also, the ocean acidification, which has
increased by about 30 percent since the Industrial Revolution, is another evidence of climate
change. It also has a negative impact on crop yield productions. The direct impact on the lives of
humans is on the vulnerable and the marginalised segment of society.

SOLUTIONS
 Pollution
 Take due environmental consideration in planning stage and carefully select business
location with proper location and adequate space for placing exhaust outlets
 Avoid the exhaust outlets in close proximity to the air sensitive receptors for restaurants
and food business
 Locate the exhaust outlets in a good ventilated and dispersive area, e.g. extending kitchen
exhausts to rooftop


 Locate the exhaust outlets at

rooftop for better dispersion.
 Locate and orientate the exhaust away from the nearby air sensitive receptors
 Preference should be given to extend the exhaust to a level of at least 3m above the
highest point of the restaurant's own building and any adjacent or attached buildings
within a 20m radius
 Seek advice from environmental professionals when locating exhaust outlet
 Use smokeless fuel, such as gas and electricity
 No outdoor cooking, e.g. hotpot & BBQ
 Install appropriate air pollution control equipment (recent tests indicated that the
combined use of electrostatic precipitator and hydrovent can remove up to 94% of oily
fumes)

Deforestation
 Government Regulations 
 The best solution to deforestation is to curb the felling of trees by enforcing a series of
rules and laws to govern it. Deforestation in the current scenario may have reduced;
however, it would be too early to assume.
 The money-churner nature of forest resources can be tempting enough for deforestation
to continue.
 Banning Clear-Cutting of Forests
 This will curb the total depletion of the forest cover. It is a practical solution and is very
feasible.
 Reforestation and Afforestation
 Land skinned of its tree cover for urban settlements should be urged to plant trees in the
vicinity and replace the cut trees. Also, the cutting must be replaced by planting young
trees to replace the older ones that were cut.
 Trees are being planted under several initiatives every year, but they still don’t match the
numbers of the ones we’ve already lost.
 Reduce Consumption of Paper
 Your daily consumption of paper includes printing paper, notebooks, napkins, toilet
paper, etc. Try to reduce consumption, reduce waste of paper and also opt for recycled
paper products.
 Make life simple such as printing/writing on both sides of the paper, using less toilet
paper, avoiding paper plates, and napkins and wherever possible, go paperless.
 Educate Others
 Still, many are entirely unaware of the global warming problem we’re facing. Educate
your friends, family, and community by sharing the deforestation facts, and its causes and
effects. You can make an impact!
 Eat Less Meat
 Livestock rearing has become one of the leading causes of deforestation. Try to eat less
meat. It may be hard for some people to try. However, eating less meat, even just for one
meal a day, will also make an extreme impact on the environment.
 Soil Erosion
 Careful Tilling
Because tilling activity breaks up the structure of the soil, doing less tilling with fewer passes
will preserve more of the crucial topsoil.

 Crop Rotation
Plenty of crop rotation is crucial for keeping land happy and healthy. This allows organic matter
to build up, making future plantings more fertile.
 Increased Structure For Plants
 Introducing terraces or other means of stabilizing plant life or even the soil around them
can help reduce the chance that the soil loosens and erodes. Boosting areas that are prone
to erosion with sturdy plant life can be a great way to stave off future effects.
 Water Control
 For those areas where soil erosion is predominantly caused by water – whether natural or
man-made – specialized chutes and runoff pipes can help to direct these water sources
away from the susceptible areas, helping stave off excess erosion.

 Having these filters in particular areas rather than leading to natural bodies of water is a
focus to reduce pollution.
 Soil Conservation
 Soil conservation can be defined as “the combination of the appropriate land use and
management practices that promotes the productive and sustainable use of soils and, in
the process, minimizes soil erosion and other forms of land degradation.”
 Various measures for soil conservation are primarily meant for the prevention of soil loss
or reduced fertility caused by acidification, over usage, salinization or other chemical soil
contamination.

 Different techniques for improved soil conservation involve cover crops, crop rotation,
planted windbreaks, and conservation tillage and affect both fertility and erosion.

 Increased Knowledge
 A major factor for preventing soil erosion is educating more and more people who work
with the land on why it is a concern, and what they can do to help reduce it.

 This means outreach to farmers in susceptible areas for ways that they can help protect
crops from inclement weather or ways that they can help make sure their soil remains
compact without restricting their plant growing activities.

Smog

 Purchase renewable energy

 By purchasing renewable energy, it helps in the reduction of emissions from power
generating plants that heavily depend on fossil fuel. In other words, the use of renewable
energy not only reduces environmental impacts but also trims down the presence of smog
causing pollutants in the air.
 Reducing and managing vehicular and industrial emissions
 Vehicles and industries constitute the largest contributors of smog forming pollutants.
The best way to reduce smog is to therefore to take the lead in managing gaseous
emissions from cars and industries. For industries, the use of renewable energy
sources and the manufacturing of environmentally friendly consumer products are
fundamental. For cars; aspects such as combining errands in one trip, use of public
transport, proper maintenance of the car and walking or biking instead of driving can
significantly reduce smog pollution.
 Increasing energy efficiency and conserving energy
 Increasing energy efficiency and at the same time conserving energy leads to reduced
gaseous emissions into the atmosphere that often result in the formation of smog. A
capable and productive energy management system can go a long way in reducing smog
causing pollutants in the air such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides.
 Use of environmentally friendly consumer products
 The use of household products that have high levels of volatile organic compounds
should be completely avoided. These products not only release hazardous materials into
the atmosphere but also emit particulate matter that reacts in the presence of sunlight to
 form ground-level ozone. The use of environmentally friendly consumer products such as
eco-friendly paints, paper, sprays, solvents and plastics therefore provides a basis for
addressing smog pollution.
 Smog detection and monitoring systems
 As much as smog is easily visible when it’s present in the atmosphere, the use of
appropriate smog detectors and monitoring systems can act as early warning systems.
Respective metrological departments can help with this by installing monitoring
equipment that consistently records the amount of emission and particulate matter in the
air.

Solid Waste Management

 Donate Clothes
 Believe it or not, the throwing away of clothing is one of the biggest contributions we
make to landfills today. We open up our closets; pick clothes that no longer need like a
sweater that was fashionable last year, a ripped shirt, or some clothes that we just don’t
want to keep any more. And where does it go? That’s right, to the garbage, and from
there, to the landfill.

 Instead of throwing away these old clothes, make better use out of it. First, make sure that
these are clothes that you absolutely don’t need any more. Then, donate clothes to people
in need or to Goodwill stores, or hold a sale in your garage (though assuming the clothes
are still wearable, of course). You know what they say, another man’s trash is another
man’s pleasure.

 Reduce Food Waste

 Food is another item that we often just carelessly toss away without thinking twice about
it. Each year, a very large percentage of our purchased food is left uneaten. Instead of
simply throwing away food, make good use out of it. Even if we kept just a small
percentage of our uneaten food and donated it, millions of needy people would be fed.
 Eat Healthy
 Also think about eating healthier. Buy healthier foods that don’t require as much
disposable waste in the form of packaging. Reuse old shopping bags and containers for
maximum efficiency, and better yet, cloth bags. Don’t buy fast food take out as often
either.

 Save Leftovers for Next Day

 Don’t forget about leftovers! Too many people are careless enough to throw away half of
a good meal and not save it for later. Eating leftovers more often will save on money and
result in less food waste. Try making it a habit to save the rest of tonight’s food in the
fridge for tomorrow’s lunch or dinner.
 Buy Things With Less Packaging
 You can also stock up on food in the freezer. Buy a bunch of food at the same time and
store it in the freezer, and don’t buy any more food until the freezer is empty. In addition,
buying food in bulk means less packaging and less waste.

Population

 Have fewer children! One is good, two is enough

 Consider adoption!
 Read, educate yourself about population issues
 Reduce your personal consumption: go vegan, limit flying, share your household with
others.
 Educate your teenage child(ren) about sex and contraception early, without taboos
 Spread your knowledge and concern among your friends and family, raise awareness
about overpopulation on social media
 Donate to family planning programs in your own or other countries – for example
to International Planned Parenthood, FP2020 or another equally deserving organization
 Vote for politicians who acknowledge the detrimental impacts of population growth and
propose political solutions
Actions on the community level

 Join local environmental groups, encouraging them to “connect the dots” between
population and the environment and address population issues
 Write opinion pieces for local newspapers, contact local media sources requesting more
reporting on population issues – create demand!
 Municipalities should set growth management boundaries, discouraging sprawl
development on their fringes
 Towns and cities should purchase surrounding lands, or the development rights to such
lands, in order to set them aside as nature preserves and open space
 City councils should pass resolutions accepting limits to growth, and directing their
national governments to develop policies to stabilize or reduce national populations

Immigration

 Loosen regulations. Make it rasier for migrants to leave their rural hometown and move
to a more urban setting.
 Loosen welfare policies. The only reason why people ar not allowed to move freely
inbetween countries, is the construction of the welfare state.
 Natural Disasters
 Maximum foreseeable loss studies.
 Corporate vulnerability assessments.
 Insurance purchasing/risk transfer.
 Captive insurance development.
 Disaster recovery and emergency response planning.
 Capital and resource allocation.
 Business continuity management and planning.
 Building improvement.
 Site selection and acquisition.

Climate Change:
 BirdLife International delivers ground-breaking research on the causes of the greenhouse
effect, the impacts of climate change and global warming on biodiversity, to inform
better decisions on the ground.
 By working to conserve and manage forests, peatlands and other habitats, BirdLife’s
Partnership of 119 national organisations is helping to reduce greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere.
 BirdLife supports renewable energy deployment and delivers solutions to governments,
investors and developers to ensure these do not negatively impact nature.
 Our work shows that supporting community engagement and action can build the
resilience of natural and societal systems.

Birdlife advocates for the importance of healthy ecosystems to be recognized in national,

regional and international climate change and development policy.

CONCLUSION
Environmental problems in coastal regions require a collaborative approach among governments,
civil society, and private interests, presenting a difficult collective action problem.
Environmental problems remain to be resolved. Use of some new forms of energy resources
prompts debates as to adverse consequences, above all to human health. 

REFERENCES
 https://dailytimes.com.pk/472217/climate-change-causes-outcomes-in-pakistan-and-a-
way-forward/
 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19475705.2011.626083
 https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/smogpollution.php#:~:text=The
%20atmospheric%20pollutants%20or%20gases,purely%20caused%20by%20air
%20pollution.
 https://www.dawn.com/news/1521879

 https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=pollution+and+types&btnG =
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7044178/
 https://www.shifa4u.com/blog/7-causes-of-overpopulation-in-pakistan/21
 https://nation.com.pk/23-Jul-2019/population-problem-of-pakistan