Pakistan's Efforts To Combat Water Pollution

Water pollution is a critical issue in Pakistan, with approximately 80% of the population lacking access to safe drinking water. The main sources of water contamination include sewerage, industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff, and chemical pollutants. To combat this, Pakistan has implemented various measures, such as the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, which prohibits the discharge of waste exceeding national environmental quality standards. The government is also working on installing drinking water filters across the country and improving water management practices in the agricultural sector, which contributes significantly to water insecurity. However, the country faces challenges due to its rapidly growing population, industrialization, and the impacts of climate change, which have led to a decrease in water availability per capita.

Pakistan's government is installing drinking water filters across the country

Pakistan is facing a water crisis, with a growing population, increasing urbanisation, and rapid industrialisation causing a physical shortage of water. The country is ranked as "water-stressed", and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) estimates that by 2025, Pakistan could be in a situation of absolute water scarcity.

Water pollution is a significant issue in Pakistan, with around 80% of the population forced to drink contaminated water. The main sources of contamination are sewerage and the disposal of toxic chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers from industrial and agricultural sources. The usage of fertilizers is rising in Pakistan, and these affect surface and groundwater, ultimately contaminating lakes and rivers. This has been emphasized in numerous studies, including one by the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR), which found that one-fifth of water samples contained traces of residue from fertilizers and pesticides.

To address this issue, the Pakistan government is taking steps to install drinking water filters across the country. Proper installation of treatment plants can help filter sewage or wastewater, making it safe for drinking, irrigation, washing, cleaning, and bathing. The treatment plants use seven basic steps for cleaning and filtering wastewater, including screening, aeration, coagulation and flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, chlorination, and supplementary treatment. Despite these efforts, Pakistan has only 1% of the required domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plants.

In addition to the government's efforts, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) also addresses water pollution. It states that no one shall have the right to discharge effluents or release any waste or pollutants that exceed national Environmental Quality Standards. Non-compliance will result in pollution charges imposed by the federal government. At the provincial level, various Environmental Protection Acts prohibit the discharge of domestic or industrial effluents above provincial environmental quality standards.

The country's water pollution falls under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act

Pakistan's water pollution issues fall under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) of 1997. This act is a federal law that describes the rules and regulations regarding the protection of freshwater sources from pollution.

Section 11 of PEPA states that no one has the right to discharge effluents or release any waste and pollutants that exceed national Environmental Quality Standards. If an individual or entity does not comply with these standards, pollution charges will be imposed by the federal government.

At the provincial level, several acts support PEPA, including the Punjab Environment Protection (Amendment) Act (2012), the Balochistan Environmental Protection Act (2012), the KPK Environmental Protection Act (2014), and the Sindh Environmental Protection Act (2014). These acts prohibit the discharge of domestic or industrial effluents above provincial environmental quality standards.

Despite these laws and regulations, Pakistan continues to face significant water pollution issues. Water pollution in Pakistan is primarily caused by the heavy utilisation of water for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes. The main sources of contamination are municipal sewage, industrial wastewater, pesticides, and fertilizers from agricultural sources, which are discharged into water bodies.

The poor water supply in Pakistan is due to the lack of water availability, and about 80% of the population is forced to use unsafe drinking water. Water-related diseases are a significant concern, with waterborne illnesses accounting for 40% of communicable diseases in the country.

To address these issues, the Government of Pakistan is taking steps such as installing drinking water filters across the country. However, there are still challenges in implementing environmental safety requirements and regulations, and the country faces managerial, professional, and techno-legal competency gaps in ensuring successful compliance with the Act.

Waterborne diseases are a major issue, with 55,000 children under five dying annually

Waterborne diseases are a pressing issue in Pakistan, with an annual toll of 55,000 lives among children under five. This crisis is fuelled by a combination of factors, including population growth, rapid industrialization, and inadequate water treatment and sanitation systems.

The primary source of water contamination in Pakistan is the mixing of sewerage (fecal) water with drinking water supplies due to poor sanitation and sewerage infrastructure. This issue is particularly prevalent in rural areas, where surface water is used for drinking without proper filtration or chlorination. The lack of pretreatment facilities in these regions further exacerbates the problem.

Industrial wastewater, agricultural runoff, and domestic effluents also contribute significantly to water pollution. Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture contaminates surface and groundwater, ultimately affecting lakes and rivers. Industrial effluents discharge toxic chemicals, textile dyes, and other pollutants into water bodies, posing a significant health risk to the population.

The situation is further aggravated by natural disasters such as floods, which destroy infrastructure and leave communities without access to safe drinking water. In the aftermath of floods, health officials reported a sharp increase in waterborne diseases, including acute watery diarrhoea, skin infections, typhoid, malaria, and dengue fever. Babies and young children are especially vulnerable to these diseases, and the lack of proper toilets, handwashing facilities, and clean water exacerbates the spread of diseases like dysentery and cholera.

To address this critical issue, the Government of Pakistan is taking steps to install drinking water filters across the country. Additionally, initiatives like the Balochistan Clean Drinking Water for All (CDWA) evaluation aim to develop effective monitoring frameworks and collect accurate data to inform evidence-based policies. However, the success of these efforts hinges on comprehensive approaches and regulations at the national, regional, and individual levels, along with sustained monitoring and implementation.

Pakistan's water availability per capita has decreased from 5,260 cubic meters in 1951 to 1,000 cubic meters today

Pakistan's water availability per capita has decreased significantly since 1951, dropping from 5,260 cubic meters to 1,000 cubic meters as of 2016. This decline is projected to continue, with estimates suggesting a further decrease to 860 cubic meters by 2025. The main factors contributing to this situation are population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and the impacts of climate change.

Population growth and urbanization have led to an increasing demand for water, putting pressure on Pakistan's limited water resources. Between 1972 and 2020, Pakistan's population grew by 2.6 times, while total water use increased by about 0.7% per year between 1977 and 2017. This has resulted in a decrease in per capita water resources, with the ratio of water withdrawals to renewable water resources rising from 62% to 82% during the same period. The country's population is projected to increase by another 53% by 2050, reaching 338 million, which will further strain water availability.

Additionally, rapid industrialization and agricultural practices have contributed to water pollution, making a significant portion of water sources unsafe for consumption. Industrial effluents, domestic wastewater, and agricultural runoff containing pesticides and fertilizers have contaminated surface and groundwater, leading to the proliferation of waterborne diseases and negatively impacting public health.

To address these challenges, Pakistan has implemented various measures. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) and provincial environmental protection acts prohibit the discharge of domestic or industrial effluents above the national and provincial environmental quality standards. The government is also working on installing drinking water filters across the country and improving treatment plants. However, the uncertain political climate and resistance to structural reforms have hindered comprehensive solutions.

International collaboration and investment can play a crucial role in helping Pakistan mitigate its water scarcity issues. The U.S.-Pakistan Green Alliance, for example, focuses on climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, and water management. Additionally, pricing water for non-essential cash crops and making water metering compulsory for all users can help conserve water and generate revenue for infrastructure maintenance.

The Ravi River is the most polluted river in the world

Pakistan is facing a water crisis, with a physical shortage of water and a growing population. The country's water demand is increasing due to rapid urbanization and industrialization. This has led to a deterioration in drinking water quality, with about 80% of the population lacking access to safe drinking water. The primary source of contamination is sewage (fecal matter) being discharged into drinking water supply lines. The secondary sources of pollution are the disposal of toxic chemicals, industrial effluents, pesticides, and fertilizers from agricultural sources into water bodies.

The Ravi River, located in northwestern India and northeastern Pakistan, flowing along the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, has been deemed the most polluted river in the world. A 2022 report by the University of York, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the US, found that the Ravi River had the highest cumulative concentration of pharmaceutical ingredients of any river in the world, at 189 µg/L. The river is polluted with human and industrial waste, as well as pharmaceutical particles, including paracetamol, nicotine, caffeine, and epilepsy and diabetes drugs. The pollution is attributed to rapid urbanization, high industrialization, and a lack of wastewater treatment, causing large amounts of wastewater and toxic effluents to flow directly from urban areas like Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Faisalabad into the Ravi River.

The Pakistani government has responded to the severe pollution of the Ravi River by planning to build a new city called the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project. The project aims to construct a man-made channel and a series of barrages along the Ravi's path to control its water level and restore Lahore's supply of groundwater. The project is also expected to install wastewater treatment plants to treat sewage before releasing it into the river. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan stated that the project would boost the economy, benefit industries, and create hundreds of jobs. However, despite receiving foreign investment, the project has yet to show significant progress.

The pollution of the Ravi River has severe environmental and health impacts. It hinders Pakistan's achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of providing access to clean water and sanitation and conserving the world's water bodies. The high levels of pharmaceutical pollution in the river lead to greater antibiotic-resistant bacteria, posing a threat to both aquatic life and human health.

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