Environmental degradation

According to reports by Suparco and the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2005-2006, air and water pollution levels in Karachi and Pakistani cities have crossed national and international environment quality standards and are the highest in the world and a serious threat to the lives of the residents of the cities.
Both surveys state that smoke and dust particles, known as SPM, that cause lung diseases, are twice the world average and five times higher than those in industrial countries and have crossed the safe limits.
They have warned the government to take immediate measures to check the deteriorating environment.
At recent seminar on "Preventing Environmental Degradation" organised by Helpline Trust in collaboration with Shehri, experts pointed out that the major cause of the rise in air pollution in the city is dust, industry, burning of solid waste, emptying of effluent into the sea, smoke emitting vehicles due to the fast growing number of vehicles on the road, especially two-stroke vehicles, diesel trucks and buses and the use low quality fuel.
And even though environmental laws and an Environmental Tribunal exist and various campaigns have been launched by environment protection agencies, police departments and NGOs against rising air and noise pollution over the years, it is still on the rise.
In addition to emissions from transport, there are issues of solid waste management, disposal of medical, toxic, hospital waste, dumping of industrial and domestic effluent into the sea, smoldering garbage dumps, power plants, noise and air pollution, water contamination, discharge of gases and chemicals from industries, tree-felling, elimination of mangroves along coasts, etc.
Noman Saigal, Adviser to the CM on Environment, has stated that transport vehicles were responsible for about 75 percent of the pollution in Karachi and that lack of resources, including financial and administrative, were the main hurdle in checking spread of pollution. He has said that 30% of the health budget should be allocated for improvement of environment.
Air pollution from vehicular emission can be contained at different levels by installation of pollution control devices and by switching over to cleaner fuel and modification in design and by phasing out obsolete technology.
Karachi needs integrated policies and approach for sustainable environmental development and enacting of laws and its effective implementation, otherwise the environment will continue to be damaged in life-threatening ways. Therefore, monitoring and regulating air pollution is now a must.