Zainab Ramzan
BS Ed( Hons)
Punjab University H-9, Islamabad,
Environmental problem are very dangerous menace that the modern world is facing today. A number of serious environmental problems are inherent in Pakistan, which are great ecological concern. Environmental problems are nearing hazardous limits because people do not have awareness of its danger. There are many environmental problems in Pakistan that are causing Pakistan big time. Environmental problems in Pakistan include air pollution. noise pollution, water pollution, soil erosion, climate change, and deforestation.
The world bank report in 2013 stated that Pakistan top environmental problem, Inadequate supply of uncontaminated drinking water and the health deterioration of urban and rural populations due to pollution.
Pakistan is classified as a water stressed nation by the world banks. There are seven main rivers that enter Pakistan form upper riparian stated, including the Kabul river that enter from Afghanistan, the Jhelum River, Chenab River, Ravi River, Indus River and Sutlej River that enter from India. Water pollution generation is increasing due the to the growing economy and population and complete lack of water treatment. These sources include the overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, dumping of industrial effluent into lakes and rivers, the contamination of fresh drinking water makes it a harder for people to find clean water supplies and increase the prevalence of waterborne diseases, trash thrown in an empty plot in Karachi, Pakistan .45% of infant deaths are due to diarrhea and 60% to overall waterborne diseases.
The megacities of Pakistan, such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi, face the problem of noise pollution. The main source of this pollution is the traffic noise, trucks, water tankers. A study showed that on one of Karachi main road, the average noise level was around 90dB and was capable of reaching about 110Db. However, the study also concluded that in Pakistan, “the traffic noise levels limit as laid down by National Environmental Quality standards, Environmental protection agency is 85dB. It cause auditory and non auditory health problems include sleep disturbance, cardiovascular disease, endocrine response to noise disorder.
Desertification is a process that turns productive land into non-productive desert. It occurs mainly in semi-arid areas bordering on deserts. The threat of overgrazing and overstocking of the natural vegetation is aggravating the situation. The change in grazing practices has virtually reduce some area in the Cholistan desert to sand dunes. More than one-third desertification (45 million hectares). Deforestation, over cultivation, excessive cutting of fuel wood and incorrect irrigation practices all have a share in this problem.
Water logging and salinity usually occur together and are a result of intensive and consider them more important than soil erosion because they occur in the most productive areas of the Indus basin. More than 2 million nectars of land is waterlogged, and the inefficient historical planning of the irrigation system is the culprit. in any case, the increase in this problem could mean the clearing up of the adjacent forests to make room for more agricultural land. Because of gravity of the situation, measures have been taken to rectify this problems as a result of which a large area of land has been reclaimed through the salinity control and reclamation program.
Natural disasters due to Pakistan divers land and climatic conditions, it is prone to different forms, including earthquakes, floods, cyclones and droughts. The Pakistan floods of 2010 where 20 million people were affected. Little is being done to tackle there problems, because the goals of economic growth and tackling terrorism within the country supersede the goals of environmental preservation.
The government has expressed concern about environmental threats to economic growth and social development and since the early 1990s has addressed environmental concerns with new legislation and institutions such as the Pakistan environmental protection council. Print media and as well as electronic media of Pakistan should create awareness among the people about harm of environmental problems. The government increase environmental budget. An initiative named clean green Pakistan was launched in 2019 by government of Pakistan.