The per capita water availability in Pakistan has been decreasing at an alarming rate. It was 5,300 cubic meter in 1951 which has now decreased to 1,105 cubic meter just touching water scarcity level of 1,000 cubic meter, officials of Ministry of Environment informed Business Recorder here on Friday.
The officials said that about 55 percent of population have access to safe drinking water sources, whereas almost 55 percent of masses have access to adequate sanitation facilities. They added that almost all freshwater resources are severely polluted due to discharge of untreated industrial and municipal wastes.
It is estimated that as compare to urban areas, people living in rural areas are becoming its victims, they said adding this has resulted in various diseases ultimately causing an increase in death rate.
The officials said that due to increasing number of vehicles, air and noise pollution in Pakistan are also on the rise, especially in urban areas. "It is a very serious matter and needs to be addressed immediately. Otherwise it will definitely affect the agriculture sector and would increase the rate of road accidents in the province," they added.
About 54,850 tonnes of waste is daily generated in urban areas and less than 60 percent is properly collected which is directly affecting people's health, the officials said and regretted that not a single city of Pakistan has a proper system of collecting and dumping the waste.
Talking about the deforestation rate in Pakistan, the officials said that it has been estimated at 0.2 - 0.5 percent per annum. "The government has initiated various projects to control deforestation but unfortunately up till now most of the efforts have gone in vain," the officials added.
The officials said that there are many factors behind the grave pollution situation which include unawareness among the masses to protect the environment, poverty, high population growth, unplanned urban and industrial expansion, lack of education followed by lack of institution capacity and resources for effective environmental management.
The Ministry of Environment has planned many projects to overcome the situation but unfortunately the ministry lacks experts to properly implement the projects, the officials said and added that there are many national and international organisations that are working on various environmental issues, but it is regrettable that these agencies are focusing on limited areas.