The case of Pakistan is not different from the other countries of the region when the subject is environment. Unsustainable over-exploitation of natural resources by a fast-increasing population (presently at 100 million) has led to poor living conditions in cities and villages. Rapid urbanisation and indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources by industry are greatly compromising human health, forests, crops and water quality.
DIRTY WATER
Recently, 16 percent of the 200 wells studied in the ex-capital of Rawalpindi and the present capital Islamabad were found to be contaminated with faecal coliform organisms. About 57 percent of the piped water sampled in Rawalpindi was unfit for drinking due to chemical residues.
The city of Lahore, capital of Punjab province, produces 2,000 metric tonnes of solid wastes daily. Large quantities of liquid wastes heavily contaminated with toxic chemicals are discharged untreated into the Ravi river. What is true of Lahore is also true for cities like Karachi, Faisalabad, Hyderabad and Gujranwala. A fertiliser plant in Multan has been discharging highly dangerous pollutants directly into a nearby canal. Elsewhere, there is no monitoring of industrial discharge of lead, mercury, chromium, nickel, celenium, asbestos and vinyl chloride.