Unfortunately it’s in the very
nature of our incompetent ruling hierarchy to never to pursue with determination
the desired goals and objectives of any policy or plan after being proposed and
passed by the concerned bodies.
To date, all the plans and policies drafted to protect the environment and
conserve the resources has resulted in a complete debacle because of either the
total absence or the incapability of the enforcing bodies. This has led the
common person to live in unhygienic, squalid and filthy circumstances.
In the 60’s era, when developed countries like USA, Japan, UK etc suffered
severe environmental problems due to the massive urbanization and
industrialization, immediate need was felt to prepare legislation related to
drinking water quality, water pollution control, air quality management, noise
pollution control, solid wastes and hazardous wastes in order to provide a safe
living to the community which we lack even in this modern age.
Compelled by the compliance with the global efforts for the environmental
protection and resources conservation, some provisions were made the part of the
Pakistan Constitution 1973 in which both the federal and provincial governments
were given the authority to initiate and make legislation for the protection of
environment.
Later on both Pakistan Environmental Protection Council (PEPC) to develop
policies and guidelines and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce
them were launched under the promulgation of Pakistan Environmental Protection
Ordinance (PEPO) in Zia’s era with covert aim to grasp funding from the
international donor agencies like USAID, World Bank etc and not for the welfare
of community.
Up to the approval of National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) and
preparation of National Conservation Strategy in 1992, no significant event
occurred in the environmental history of Pakistan possibly because of the Afghan
war. PEPO was revised several times upon the suggestions put forward by the
International Union For Conservation Of Nature (IUCN) and appeared in the shape
of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) in 1997.PEPA is a comprehensive
act and contains concrete action plans and programs for the prevention of
pollution and preservation of clean and healthy environment. It covers the air,
water, soil, marine and noise pollution including pollution caused by motor
vehicles. An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was launched for construction
of infrastructure like roads, highways, buildings, industries and other
installations or any change, expansion or repair of same or mineral exploration
or quarrying with a statement given that no project may be started without an
EIA being carried out and safeguards provided to the effect that proposed
project wouldn’t pollute the environment. Import of hazardous wastes into the
country was banned and transport of hazardous substances and dangerous chemicals
or explosives was regulated through licenses. It emphasized upon the
installation of an appropriate mechanism to control the pollution by motor
vehicles and hence ensured compliance with NEQS.PEPC was authorized to formulate
policies and guidelines while the responsibility to enforce these policies and
implement the provision of law was bestowed upon the PEPA. Also the federal
government was empowered to prepare rules for the implementation of
international environmental agreements and convention to which the Pakistan is a
party.
This act is viewed as a major improvement over all the past efforts made but
still the desired results didn’t met. In Musharraf’s tenure, a National
Environmental Action Plan (NEAP) was approved with aim to improve environmental
conditions with special focus on clean air, clean water, solid waste management
and ecosystem management. The defined function of NEAP was to identify pressing
environmental issues especially related to the four major core areas and to
propose the type of programmatic remedial actions that can be taken. Also a
decision was made that any bank or financial institution wouldn’t pass any loan
for establishment of new industry without EIA report.
After all these sincere efforts has been made by our worthy rulers, no positive
progress has been clued anywhere. Progress has stalled due to institutional
failure on the part of the government policies and practices. In addition to
policy ineffectiveness and corruption, Pakistan has not funded environmental
protection efforts adequately. Consequently, today a majority of the population
does not have access to potable water due to industrial waste and agricultural
runoff that contaminates drinking water supplies and are vulnerable to the
horrendous waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, typhoid, bacterial
infections, hepatitis, paratyphoid fever, bacillary dysentery, E.Coli
infections, Salmonellosis etc. It is estimated that over 230,000 children die a
year because of water-borne diseases. The standard of household water in USA is
quite good than the packed treated water of Nestle or Aquafina etc over here.
The level of air pollution in Pakistan's two largest cities, Karachi and Lahore,
is estimated to be 20 times higher than World Health Organization standards, and
continuing to rise. Islamabad, the capital, is perpetually smothered by a thick
cloud of smog that hides views of the Margalla Hills that tower over the city's
tree-lined streets. As industry has expanded, factories have emitted more and
more toxic effluents into the air. Also, as in other developing countries, the
number of vehicles in Pakistan has swelled massively in recent years. Reports
show that motor vehicle exhaust accounts for 90% of the pollutants in Pakistan's
air. Many Pakistani environmentalists say that poor fuel quality is also to
blame for the country's serious air pollution problems. Authorities are looking
at the possibility of using alternative fuels (CNG) for vehicles to reduce the
air pollution. According to the latest statistics, Pakistan is the third largest
CNG consumer in the world after Argentina and Italy. Use of CNG in vehicles is
being encouraged to reduce pressure on petroleum imports, to reduce carbon
emissions and improve the environment.
The recent outbreak of dengue fever in Pakistan can be addressed as a
consequence of poor environmental conditions. It has killed 25 people and
affected more than 6000 over the past two months in Lahore. In order to curb
this horrendous calamity, we must pay heed to the warning of visiting Sri Lankan
experts to keep ourselves, our household and the surrounding environment
spotlessly clean and tidy. Also Cleanliness is half of faith.