Brian Barton
Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in the world. The country faces high levels of pollution, which has imposed heavy costs on its citizens and economy through health and productivity issues. In 2019, Pakistan was ranked as the second most polluted country in the world, with a PM2.5 reading of 65.81 μg/m³. This particulate matter, which is roughly 3% the size of an average human hair, has serious health implications for those who inhale it. Pakistan's pollution is caused by a range of factors, including vehicle emissions, industrial activity, fossil fuel burning, biomass burning, and agricultural practices. Water pollution is also a serious concern, with untreated wastewater discharged from households, industry, and agriculture contaminating rivers, streams, and groundwater.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Air pollution ranking | Second most polluted country in the world in 2019 |
| PM2.5 reading in 2018 | 74.27 μg/m³ |
| PM2.5 reading in 2019 | 65.81 μg/m³ |
| Faisalabad's PM2.5 reading improvement from 2018 to 2019 | 25.8 μg/m³ |
| Lahore's PM2.5 reading improvement from 2017 to 2019 | 43.7 μg/m³ |
| Annual cost of pollution as a percentage of GDP | 10% |
| Number of deaths caused by waterborne diseases in urban areas | 15,000 |
| Number of deaths caused by waterborne diseases in rural areas | 25,000 |
| Population exposed to arsenic concentrations in drinking water above the WHO threshold of 10 µg/L | 119 million |
| Population exposed to arsenic concentrations of more than 300 µg/L | 7 million |
| Number of solid waste generated in 2020 | 36 million tons |
| Projected amount of solid waste to be generated by 2050 | 85 million tons |
| Percentage of waste generated that is collected | 50% |
| Percentage of the population with access to "clean cooking" | 50% |
| Percentage of the population relying on firewood | 68% |
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Pakistan's air pollution
Pakistan is the world's fourth most polluted country, with many of its megacities creating vast amounts of smoke, haze, and deadly smog that permeates the air, causing a multitude of issues for its inhabitants. In 2019, Pakistan had a PM2.5 reading of 65.81 μg/m³, which put it into the ''unhealthy' category. This reading also placed Pakistan in second place out of the most polluted countries in the world. PM2.5 refers to particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter, roughly 3% of the size of an average human hair. Due to its incredibly small size, PM2.5 has very serious health implications for those who inhale it.
Air pollution in Pakistan is caused by various factors, including vehicle emissions, factories, and seasonal activities such as stubble burning in the winter months. The problem of air pollution has been particularly prominent in Lahore, the capital of the Punjab province, which has repeatedly been ranked as the most polluted city in the world. In 2021, Lahore's fine particulate count rose well above 40 times the World Health Organization's air quality guideline values. Other major Pakistani cities, such as Karachi, have also been affected by high levels of air pollution.
The high levels of air pollution in Pakistan have imposed significant costs on the country's citizens and economy. The Global Alliance on Health and Pollution estimated that 128,000 Pakistanis die annually due to air pollution-related illnesses. Prolonged or heavy exposure to hazardous air can cause various health complications, including asthma, lung damage, bronchial infections, strokes, heart problems, and shortened life expectancy. According to the World Bank, the annual cost of pollution in Pakistan is around 10% of GDP.
To address the issue of air pollution, Pakistan has taken some steps towards improving its environmental practices. The government has announced plans to mitigate pollution by potentially converting existing and future coal-fired plants into coal-to-liquid or coal-to-gas plants. However, environmentalists have raised concerns about the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of such processes. Additionally, the Punjab government has started tracking and reporting air quality data, but the data is still unreliable and patchy.
Solid Waste Management (SWM) is also becoming a critical issue in Pakistan, especially in environmentally fragile areas such as the country's rich mountain landscapes. In 2020, Pakistan generated an estimated 36 million tons of solid waste, and this amount is projected to increase to 85 million tons by 2050 due to rapid population growth, urbanisation, and economic development. However, waste management practices are inadequate, with minimal waste collection in most rural areas and urban waste often left uncollected or dumped on open ground.
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Water pollution
Sources of Water Pollution
Agricultural practices also play a significant role in water pollution. The excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers, and other agrochemicals contaminate water sources, rendering them unsafe for human consumption and detrimental to aquatic ecosystems.
Health Impacts
The consumption of contaminated water has severe health implications for Pakistan's population. Waterborne diseases, including typhoid, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, and diarrhoea, are prevalent, with infant deaths caused by water-related diarrhoea being the highest in Asia. Water pollution is responsible for 80% of illnesses and 30% of deaths in the country, according to recent assessments.
Environmental and Economic Impacts
The economic impacts of water pollution are significant, particularly in the agricultural sector. Contaminated water harms crops and forces farmers to rely on scarce freshwater supplies, creating substantial economic and social challenges for a country heavily dependent on agriculture.
Addressing the Issue
The water crisis in Pakistan demands urgent attention and coordinated actions. Efforts by organizations like the Paani Project, which focuses on improving water access and quality, offer hope. However, more comprehensive initiatives are needed to address the complex challenges posed by water pollution and scarcity, protect ecological and human health, and ensure a sustainable future for Pakistan.
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Solid waste
Pakistan's solid waste management infrastructure is lacking, similar to many other developing nations. Local and municipal governments are responsible for waste collection, which varies significantly between localities. In cities, about 60-70% of solid garbage is collected, while rural areas often have minimal waste collection. Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, produces over 13,500 to 16,500 tons of solid waste daily, with most of it being burned, dumped in open-air landfills, or left uncollected, contributing to air, soil, and water pollution and posing risks to public health and the environment.
The Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) in Sindh aims to improve solid waste management services in 20 cities and regularly announces tenders for waste management projects. In Punjab, Lahore is the only city with a proper solid waste management system, outsourced to Turkish companies. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP) plans to build a sanitary landfill, and Balochistan, the largest province by area, lacks significant waste management infrastructure.
Pakistan is taking steps to address its solid waste management issues. The country has joined the World Economic Forum's Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) and is developing the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP). Additionally, Pakistan has implemented the Single-Use Plastics (Prohibition) Regulations in 2023 to tackle plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability. The country is also partnering with the Chemicals and Waste Management Programme on a three-year project to strengthen institutional capacity and develop a sustainable chemical and hazardous waste management policy.
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Fossil fuels
Pakistan has the third-highest levels of air pollution in the world, after China and India. The country's fossil fuel consumption has been on an upward trajectory, with fossil fuel and industrial purposes producing nearly 200 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (MtCO2) emissions in 2023. This is more than triple the emissions produced in 1990.
Pakistan's energy sector is heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with 64% of its electricity generated through fossil fuels, 27% from hydropower, 5% from nuclear power, and only 4% from renewable sources. The country's coal deposits are concentrated in Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan, with total reserves estimated at 185 billion tonnes. Sindh is home to the Lakhra and Thar coalfields, the latter containing one of the world's largest lignite deposits, the most polluting form of coal.
Pakistan's transportation system is also entirely fossil fuel-based, and the government has recognized the need to transition to electric vehicles. The country's dependence on imported fossil fuels has constrained growth and kept energy and electricity prices high. Successive governments have introduced energy policies to attract investment in the energy sector, but experts argue that these have contributed to the country's energy woes. Pakistan's Prime Minister has set a target of generating 30% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030, but achieving this goal is challenging due to the powerful interests invested in fossil fuels.
The city of Lahore, Pakistan, has repeatedly been ranked as the most polluted city in the world, with smog caused by a combination of meteorological and anthropogenic factors, including vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, fossil fuel-fired power plants, and the burning of waste materials. Punjab, the province in which Lahore is located, is the most populous in Pakistan, with an estimated population of 110 million people. Five cities in Punjab were listed among the 50 most polluted cities globally in 2020.
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Health complications
Pakistan is the world's fourth most polluted country, with some of the worst pollution levels in the world. The country's pollution problem is caused by a combination of meteorological and anthropogenic factors, including temperature inversion, seasonal crop burning, industrial pollution, fossil fuel-fired power plants, vehicular emissions, and the burning of waste materials.
The health complications associated with air pollution in Pakistan are extensive and severe. Fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) shortens the average Pakistani resident's life expectancy by 3.3 to 3.9 years, making it the top health threat in the country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), PM2.5 concentration in Pakistan is currently 14.7 times the annual guideline value. This level of pollution has serious health implications, as PM2.5 particles are small enough to be easily inhaled, leading to various medical emergencies and disorders.
The impact of air pollution on physical health is significant, with studies reporting a range of health complications. Prolonged or heavy exposure to hazardous air quality can cause asthma, lung damage, bronchial infections, strokes, heart problems, and shortened life expectancy. Air pollution has also been linked to 11 million premature deaths in Pakistan, out of 153 million premature deaths worldwide. In addition to physical health issues, air pollution has been associated with behavioural and psychological health risks, affecting the behaviour and psychology of those exposed.
Water pollution is another serious concern in Pakistan, with the discharge of untreated wastewater from households, industries, and agriculture contaminating rivers, streams, and groundwater. Waterborne diseases are estimated to cause approximately 15,000 deaths in urban areas and 25,000 deaths in rural areas annually. Furthermore, the contamination of groundwater with arsenic poses a significant threat to human health, with about 7 million people estimated to be exposed to arsenic concentrations exceeding the recommended WHO threshold.
Poor waste management practices further contribute to the country's pollution problem. In 2020, Pakistan generated an estimated 36 million tons of solid waste, with minimal waste collection and disposal systems in place. Uncollected solid waste in mountain areas has led to flooding and air pollution from open burning, causing respiratory ailments. The disposal of hazardous waste, including medical waste, industrial waste, and agricultural waste, is also a critical issue, posing a significant threat to both public health and the environment.
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Frequently asked questions
Pakistan is the second most polluted country in the world. In 2019, it had a PM2.5 reading of 65.81 μg/m³, which falls into the ''unhealthy' category.
The main sources of air pollution in Pakistan include vehicle emissions, industrial activity, fossil fuel burning, biomass burning, and power plants.
The health risks associated with air pollution in Pakistan are significant. Prolonged exposure to hazardous air can cause asthma, lung damage, bronchial infections, strokes, heart problems, and shortened life expectancy. It is estimated that 128,000 Pakistanis die annually due to air pollution-related illnesses.
There have been some efforts to improve air quality in Pakistan, such as the Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI) and the government's international climate pledge, which includes a ban on the open burning of rice stubble and solid waste. However, the country still has a long way to go to reduce its air pollution levels and mitigate the health impacts on its citizens.
