Every year World Environment Day is celebrated all over the world on 5th June to revive the pledge of mankind for the protection and conservation of our natural environment. At local, national and international level wide variety of programs are arranged to inculcate the people importance and significance of this day with respect to environment.
This year at Sindh level various programs are being arranged to observe this day for the enhancement of environmental awareness of public.
The environmental challenges being faced by Sindh are enormous, which have largely resulted from the effects of rapid population growth, increasing rate of urbanisation and the development of industrial complexes adjacent to the major cities.
These activities have put enormous pressure on the natural resource base of the province. Also, availability of wastes due to limited treatment facilities, the increasing release of industrial effluent and municipal waste have polluted the land and water bodies, thereby posing a perpetual threat to the health of living beings.
Industrial and vehicular air emissions are two major contributors of air pollution in the cities. High concentration of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, particulate matter/dust particles, hydrocarbons, lead etc are the main pollutants responsible for the degradation of air quality.
This situation of pollution in our environment is the root cause of many intestinal, respiratory and psychological diseases.
Apart from human health issues the degradation of our natural resource is facing irreversible damage which needs huge cost for rehabilitation.
Provincial Environment Department despite of facing shortage of resources has taken concerted efforts to combat environmental issues.
Many studies have been conducted to collect data of pollution in different mediums (air and water).
A project on water quality monitoring was initiated and almost data on water quality for each district of the province has been completed and highlights that drinking water quality in most of the cases contains contamination above the levels mentioned in the WHO guidelines for drinking water quality. Studies conducted with regard to noise and air pollution indicates high noise levels and degradation of air quality in the major cities of the province.
It is heartening that environment and Alternative Energy Department government of Sindh apart from its regulatory function of monitoring the industries has also taken number of initiatives for protection of environment these as per my knowledge include;
-- Pre-imposition mass awareness campaign on hazards of polythene bags is continuing in entire province of Sindh.
-- Development Scheme "Public Awareness and Environmental Education in Urban/Rural Sindh is being implemented.
-- Development Scheme "Hospital Waste Management" is being implemented.
-- Development Scheme "Contamination in Arsenic Water in Sindh" under implementation.
-- Memorandum of Understanding signed with SUPARCO to collaborate on environmental research.
-- Regular conduct of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) of development projects which is a mandatory requirement for new projects to examine the environmental impacts of development under the provisions of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997.
-- Memorandum of Understanding signed with WWF Pakistan.
-- Issuance of Guidelines on Hospital Waste Management.
-- Monitoring of Water Quality of major lakes of Sindh (Manchar, Kinjhar and Haleji) regarding their degradation status.
The future action plan in view of the gravity of the issues requires immediate action by the government to strengthen the environmental protection agencies at provincial and federal level, increasing awareness and compliance of environmental laws by the industries, civic organisations and all other departments to work for betterment of environmental conditions.
Our aim is focused on acquiring the benefits of the environmental legislation to achieve the objectives of solution of abatement of environmental problems, protection of natural resources, assurance of sustainable development, protection to human health, and ultimately improvement in quality of life.