Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA) has been directed to restart Japan-funded project 'Establishment of Environmental Monitoring System in Pakistan' with an allocation of Rs 112.258 million in the public sector development programme (PSDP) 2005-06. The work on project remained suspended for few months due to shortage of funds.
The air pollution and monitoring system is being initiated in the country with the financial assistance of Government of Japan for which Economic Affairs Division (EAD) has already received Rs 973 million.
Japan has provided a grant of over Rs one billion against total estimated cost of the project (Rs 1.089 billion) for setting up air monitoring and warning stations to check air and water pollution. Initially, Federal Government has allocated around Rs 10 million in 2004-05 budget. These stations will be set up in the Federal Capital as well as provincial capitals for surveillance and combating pollution in atmosphere and water. Apart from monetary support, Japan has also expressed its willingness to provide technical assistance for air monitoring stations. The unique project is the first of its kind in developing countries like Pakistan.
While talking to Business Recorder, senior official in Pakistan PEPA said the setting up of surveillance units in Peshawar, Lahore, Quetta, Karachi and Islamabad was also part of that project. The project would be completed in less than two years, he added.
In Pakistan, there was no adequate surveillance mechanism to control or combat the ratio of hydrocarbon in the atmosphere and to assess the pollution in water. Under the monitoring and surveillance system, the PEPA would be given free hand to stop or divert the vehicular traffic if they feel the air pollution reached alarming proportions. The concerned environmental agency would also have the powers to strictly implement the rules set for maintaining the National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) regarding installation of smoke treatment hoods in the industrial units or lead control, he added.
The agency would also compel the energy sector to introduce lead-free petrol and other POL products besides promoting clean fuels including CNG. The key factors contributing to air pollution in Pakistan are rapidly growing energy demand and fast growing transport sector. Air pollution levels in Pakistan's most populated cities are among the highest in the world. Auto and industrial emissions are the main sources of air pollution. The average growth of vehicles in Pakistan is about 12 per cent per annum and over the last two decades, the total number of motor vehicles on the road has jumped from 0.8 million to almost 5.0 million.
Motorcycles and rickshaws, due to their two-stroke engines, are the most inefficient in burning fuel and contribute most to emissions. Rickshaws have more than doubled in number, while motorcycles and scooters have increased seven folds over the past twenty years.