The Pakistan NCS was approved by the federal cabinet in March 1992 as the primary national document to encourage sustainable development, conserve natural resources, and improve efficiency in the use and management of resources. NCS was prepared after an extensive process spread over five years of public consultation, stakeholders’ review and assistance of experts from every area of environmental concern.
The objective of the NCS is to identify key environmental issues and to prioritize them. A list of mitigation measures required to address the key environmental issues is also included in the NCS. The implementation arrangement for each proposed mitigation measure is also proposed and the financial resources required for implementation are estimated. The NCS has 68 specific programs in 14 core theme areas. Long-term goals and results expected by the year 2001 were set for each core theme area.
The core theme areas are: maintaining soils in cropland; increasing irrigation efficiency; protecting watersheds; supporting forestry and plantations; restoring rangelands; protecting water bodies; conserving biodiversity; increasing energy efficiency; developing and deploying renewables; preventing and abating pollution; managing urban waste; integrating population and environment programs; preserving the cultural heritage and supporting institution for common resources.
The programs related to air pollution included shifting industry composition towards environmentally benign processes and products; integrating low waste technology in new, large manufacturing units; retrofitting of pollution abatement equipment in existing industries; refineries upgrading; vehicle tune-up; and setting-up of compressed natural gas (CNG) stations.
Due to economic and technical constraints and lack of political will only limited success has been achieved in resolving industry related programs. Progress in refineries’ upgrading, vehicle tune-up, and setting-up of CNG stations is discussed later in this section.
Statutes in the Indian Subcontinent dating as far back as the nineteenth century have recognized environmental pollution as an undesirable act and proposed punitive actions against it.[1] However, the first attempt to draft an enabling law[2] to address environmental pollution in the country was made in 1977.[3] The effort culminated in the promulgation of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance, 1983. Originally, a far more comprehensive legislation was proposed than the Ordinance. However, after consideration by several governmental agencies, it was decided that a modest beginning would be made by introducing only the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as the central point of environmental protection efforts in Pakistan.[4] Thus, even when the Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance, 1983 was promulgated, it was known that amendments would be required in the future to address all areas of environmental concern. This law was repealed in 1997 after the promulgation of the new more comprehensive Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 (Act No. XXXIV of 1997) is the primary legislative tool for prevention and abatement of pollution in the country. The key features of the Act that relate to prevention and protection of air pollution are the following:
a The Act provides for protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment, for prevention and control of pollution, and for promotion of sustainable development (Preamble to the Act).
a All pollution related terms used in the Act have been clearly defined to ensure their consistent use. The terms defined include environment, pollution, air pollution, discharge, effluent and noise.
a It has been clearly stated that the Pakistan Environmental Protection Council (PEPC) is to approve national environmental policies within the framework of a national conservation strategy.
a The NEQS requires the approval of the PEPC.
a The functions of the Pak- EPA include:
c Preparation, revision and establishment of the NEQS
c Enforcement of the NEQS
c Establishment of ambient air quality standards
c Establishment of systems and procedures for surveys, surveillance, monitoring, measurement, examination, investigation, research, inspection and audit, to prevent and control pollution, and to estimate the costs of cleaning up pollution and rehabilitating the environment in various sectors
c Taking measures to promote research and the development of science and technology that may contribute to the prevention of pollution, protection of the environment
c Encouraging the formation and working of NGOs and community-based organizations to prevent and control pollution.
a Provincial Sustainable Development Funds have been established to provide financial assistance to suitable projects, including projects for the prevention and control of pollution.
a Discharges or emissions in excess of the NEQS, or other standards established by the Pak-EPA where ambient conditions so require, have been prohibited.
a The federal government has been empowered to levy a pollution charge on persons not complying with the NEQS.
a An environmental assessment process has been introduced for proposed development projects. This involves filing of either an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) or, for projects likely to have an adverse environmental effect, a comprehensive environmental impact assessment (EIA), with the federal government. The EIA or IEE should establish that the project will not cause any adverse environmental effect before the project can be approved.
a Operation of a motor vehicle from which gaseous emissions or noise exceed the NEQS, or other standards established by Pak-EPA where ambient conditions so require, have been prohibited. To ensure compliance with the NEQS, the Pak-EPA has been empowered to direct that pollution control devices be installed in motor vehicles or fuels specified by Pak-EPA be used in them or specified maintenance or testing be carried out on them.
a The Pak-EPA and the provincial EPAs have been empowered to issue an Environmental Protection Order to deal with an actual or potential adverse environmental effect following a violation of the provisions of the Act. This may include immediate stoppage of pollution, installation of pollution control devices and action for disposal of waste and restoration of environment.
a Penalties have been imposed on contravention of the provisions of the Act that relate to NEQS, environmental assessment and environmental protection orders.
a Environmental Tribunals have been constituted with exclusive jurisdiction to try serious offences under the Act. Minor offences relating to pollution by motor vehicles, littering and waste disposal and violation of rules and regulations, etc., are to be tried by Environmental Magistrates. The Environmental Tribunals and the Environmental Magistrates have been authorized to award compensation for losses or damages. The Environmental Tribunals have also been given the power to recover from the offender monetary benefits obtained by him as a result of the offence.
Rules and regulations required to implement the provisions of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997 have been drafted by Pak-EPA. Two key sets of rules for pollution prevention are the Pollution Charge for Industry (Calculation and Collection) Rules, 1998 and the National Environmental Quality Standards (Self-Monitoring and Reporting by Industry) Rules, 1998.
The Fuel Efficiency in Road Transport Sector (FERTS) project has been initiated with the assistance of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is being executed by the Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development (MELGRD) and is implemented by the National Energy Conservation Centre (ENERCON). Its primary aim is to improve the efficiency of motorized vehicles by promoting computerized engine tune-up and maintenance practices, providing training to workshop owners and mechanics, developing sustainable options for alternate fuels, and advising the government on policy development in the road transport sector. It is estimated that the project will result in savings of US $ 19.8 million per annum to vehicle owners because of efficient operation of the engines and will result in annual reductions in emissions of carbon dioxide (262, 040 tonnes), SO2 (1,478 tonnes), lead (7 tonnes), hydrocarbons (5,659 tonnes), carbon monoxide (67,343 tonnes), and SPM (5,342 tonnes).
A National Cleaner Production Center (NCPC) for the oil sector is planned to be established in Rawalpindi. Once established the NCPC will become the engine room for umbrella projects such as: upgrade of refineries to phase out lead; development of environmentally friendly fuels; vapor loss minimization; and introduction of catalytic converters in vehicles.
In the early 1990s, the Government of Pakistan formulated policies and announced incentives to encourage the use of CNG in the country. CNG is promoted as an alternate motor fuel for Pakistan’s market to reduce pressure on petroleum imports and to curb air pollution. As of February 2000, about 50,000 CNG kits have been installed in gasoline vehicles, a total of 64 CNG stations are operating in the country and another 62 are under construction.[5] Thus, the NCS goal of setting-up 75 CNG stations in the country by the year 2001 has been achieved. The price difference between gasoline and natural gas is such that the payback period is typically between one to two years. This has been achieved by offering different types of economic incentives to investors in this area. The incentives include reduced tariff (import duty and sales tax) for equipment for CNG stations and CNG kits.
Several mass awareness campaigns on the theme of environment have been organized by the different government agencies and NGOs. Air pollution is usually a key element in these campaigns. A selected list is presented in Exhibit 5.1.
In 1992, the Ministry for Environment and Urban Affairs Division (EUAD) approved a project entitled “Environmental Awareness through the use of Mass Media” at a cost of Rs.10.28 million. This initiative launched a variety of activities through the print and electronic media, employing entertainment, such as theatre and cinema, and other means. During the project, 48-second television advertisements on marine pollution were telecast on television. Radio and television spots on the disadvantages of using plastic bags were also aired throughout 1995.
In 1995, a poster competition was arranged on the theme of the environment . Although the activity involved a small budget and targeted only schoolchildren, it had a significant impact in terms of awareness raising.
A campaign on smoke-emitting vehicles was launched using primarily hoardings at petrol stations for the target motorist audience. It sought to dissuade motorists from mixing engine oil into their vehicle fuel—a practice that increases smoke emissions. Flyers were distributed on this issue and the electronic media were also employed. This drive was further reinforced by traffic checking teams, which operated in major cities.
The Environmental Protection and Resource Conservation project (EPRC), funded by the World Bank, was a seven-year strategy concentrating on agriculture, natural resource management and environmental protection. Under the project a mass awareness strategy was developed and implemented through the electronic and print media. Activities included environmental mass awareness campaigns at the provincial and the federal level.
Exhibit 5.1: Awareness Raising Campaigns
|
Campaign |
Medium Used |
Executing Agency |
Coverage |
|
Conservation of |
Photographic Exhibition |
Mehnaz Akbar |
Local |
|
Conservation of |
Print Media |
|
National |
|
Crane Conservation |
Print Media |
Society for the Protection of Environment and community
development, Peshawar, WWF-Pakistan |
Local |
|
Environmental Pollution and Eye Disease |
Print Media |
Civil Hospital Eye Department, Karachi |
Local |
|
Environmental Technology Programme for Industry |
Print Media |
Federation of Pakistan’s Chambers of Commerce and
Industry |
National |
|
Falcon Smuggling |
Print Media |
Falcon Foundation |
National |
|
Fish Poaching |
Print Media |
Government of Sindh and Balochistan |
Local |
|
Houbara Bustard |
Print Media |
Houbara Bustard Foundation, WWF-Pakistan |
National |
|
Improvement of Urban Industrial Environment |
Print Media |
Government of NWFP/GTZ |
Local |
|
Juniper Forest |
Print Media |
|
National |
|
Lead in Underground Water |
Print Media |
Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research,
Peshawar |
Local |
|
Marine Pollution |
Electronic Media |
MELGRD |
National |
|
Moving Environmental Film Festival |
Telemedia |
WWF-Pakistan, Trust for the Environment |
National |
|
National Environmental Quality Standards |
Print and Electronic Media |
MELGRD |
National |
|
Pakistan’s Forest Cover and Rate of Deforestation |
Print Media |
WWF-Pakistan |
National |
|
Plastic Bag |
Electronic Media |
MELGRD |
National |
|
Polluted Hudiara Drain |
Print and Electronic Media |
WWF-Pakistan |
National |
|
Rickshaw |
Electronic Media |
MELGRD |
National |
|
Smoke Emitting Vehicles |
Print and Electronic Media |
MELGRD |
National |
References
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Iqbal, M. Z. and M. A. Qadir. “Determination of Br, Rb, Cs, Sc and Na in Various Plant Leaves Located in an Urban Park by Neutron Activation Analysis.” Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Letters, (1990) 145(3): 189-195.
Ghauri, B., A. Lodhi, M. Salam and M. I. Mirza. “Vehicular Emissions and Contamination of Roadside Plantation in Lahore City.” Executive Management Seminar on Environmental Pollution Monitoring Techniques, PINSTECH, Islamabad, 1999.
[1] For example, the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 imposes a fine of five hundred rupees, or imprisonment for three months, or both, for “whoever voluntary corrupts or fouls the water of any public spring or reservoir, so as to render it less fit for the purposes for which it is ordinarily used.”
[2] An enabling law defines the general objectives and the powers of the legislative and executive branches of the government and its various agencies, including the power and functions of environmental protection agencies.
[3] Pervez Hassan, “Pakistan Environment Ordinance: Background and Prospects,” the Dawn daily, 29 January 1984, Karachi.
[4] Pervez Hassan, “Institutional and Legislative Framework for Environmental Management in Pakistan,” Workshop on National Conservation Strategy of Pakistan, 25-28 August 1986, Islamabad.
[5] General Manger (CNG), Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan, Personal Communication.