Image Source: Regional Co-operation Council, Environmental Protection ‘Let’s go green’, < https://www.rcc.int/flagships/9/environment-protection > accessed 30 January 2023.

Introduction

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better” said Albert Einstein. The nature forms a crucial part of our lives and it is important to value it. There’s a world full of natural assets[1], and that’s called “natural capital”: the forests, oceans, rivers provide the food that people eat, the air people breathe, etc. To not ignore also that these natural assets are important as well to the economy, it forms almost 125$ US trillion every year.

Despite the high value of the nature which has been highlighted time and again, it is being greatly misused and exploited rather carelessly. Due to this, nature is being taken for granted owing to the free capitals that it provides; countries all around the globe are seen clearing forests, overfishing oceans, polluting rivers and building over wetlands without taking account of the impact this will have. It is necessary to look at the value of nature at a longer-term benefits for people and economy instead of making short-term financial interests decisions. That will be the work of governments and businesses to take better care of the natural world.

The value of nature appears also in selecting a day for “World Nature Conservation Day”, which falls on July 28[2]. Rethink, replenish, and recycle are key to a sustainable future. It is a reminder that people needs to give back to nature and not only use resources without giving second thoughts to conservation. This day is a great opportunity to celebrate the progress that have been made along the years and also to determine a new action in order to have a blessed earth and a sustainable future.

“If we start to understand the value of nature to our society and economy, we will recognize the importance of living in harmony with nature, rather than destroying it for short term gain. So many governments and businesses around the world are now realizing this, and starting to act – it gives me real hope for the future” said Karen Ellis Chief Advisor, Economics and Development WWF-UK.

However, nowadays human life is facing new challenges, in addition to many invisible viruses. Note that the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the relationship between people and planet. UNDP and UNEP organized a workshop on “People and Planet” where the lead speakers around the world explore the relationship between nature and human wellbeing. Many countries are depleting their natural resources in a wrong way and at an alarming rate, and this is the situation of middle and lower-income countries[3]. This may lead to a huge decrease of basic resources in those countries, like clean air, fresh water…

Environment in Pakistan

Pakistan is one of the countries that are suffering from environmental issues, but also one of the few countries to achieve “on track status” vis-à-vis SDG 13 on climate change[4]. The government took several policies and initiatives in order to improve the environments and manage the changing climate and this behind the achievements of the status.

Despite all, Pakistan is still challenging many serious environmental issues, and we can enumerate them by deforestation, air pollution, water pollution, land pollution and global warming[5].

Pakistan registers a high deforestation rate because of poverty and lack in resources they often uses timber from trees in winter. In addition to the air pollution represented by the black smoke coming from vehicles on the road, also by many toxic solid with certain gases that are destroyable to the nature. Moreover, chemicals, waste and other toxic substances contaminate a body of water and this is causes water pollution. Other than that, Pakistan don’t have a proper waste disposal system so most of the solid waste goes by burning causing air pollution. Unfortunately, Pakistan is considered a victim of global warming and the main reason behind this is the emission of fossil fuels[6].

Steps for Preservation of Environment in Pakistan

Pakistan has therefore, adopted an Environmental Policy, owing to the growing concerns globally as well as internally. Such a policy aim to achieve sustainable development by legal means as well as organizations that help in administering these laws. Enacted in December, 1997, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act focuses on applying the policies of the Council along with assigning authorities to relevant governmental forces along with raising funds through Provincial Sustainable Development Fund. Following this, Ministry of Environment, Local Government and Rural Development took actions to implement the provisions that were set out, such as setting out rules, mainly: National Environmental Quality Standards (Self-monitoring and Reporting by Industries) Rules, 2001, National Environmental quality Standards (Environmental Laboratories Certification) Regulations, 2000 and Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Review of IEE/EIA) Regulations, 2000, etc.[7]

Furthermore, Pakistan has been a Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which shows that Pakistan is dedicated towards the preservation of the natural resources of the country, to secure the future of the generations that are to follow. This Convention has been of immense help to the country in providing a proper structure in achieving aims to conserve biodiversity such as creation of protected areas and penalties for breach of the legislation. To further administer the laws of the Conventions and the Acts enacted, there has been the introduction of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agencies (PEPAs) in all four provinces that ensure that protection of the environment overrides all else, in particular towards industries, where such a breach is most likely. Additionally, within the Ministry of Environment, there are divisions owing to each issue that concerns the environment.[8]

Persisting Issues

Despite multiple efforts made by the Institutions to do as much as possible to protect the environment, Pakistan still has a looming threat owing to the issues that are yet to be resolved. In terms of intensive farming, less than 20% can be put to use and of which, almost all has been used. The issues with disposing off waste is yet to be resolved, where only half or even less goes into sewers, further adding to the damage of the environment. Despite having knowledge that the country’s population is one of the fastest growing ones, the fertility rate remains unchanged and about 60% infant deaths are due to the polluted water, an issue that persists throughout Pakistan[9].

Judicial Input in the Environmental Preservation of Pakistan

When speaking of ensuring the legislations are being complied with, the judiciary plays a vital role, which has not proven to be a disappointment as there have been procedures to ensure preservation of environment. Such procedures have been according to the changes and developments that the society has visibly gone through. Therefore, it can be said that the traditional and outdated methods have been somewhat discarded, having been replaced by more effective processes, owing to the contribution of the judiciary. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has dealt with various cases that concern environmental crisis, such as Shehla Zia vs Wapda[10], where the Court addressed critical questions: whether life of citizens can be risked by the actions taken by the Government and if zoning laws give citizens rights that need the consent of the said citizens to change or implement. The Supreme Court has also guided the Provincial Government of Sindh to take necessary steps to get rid of pollution which is caused due to the vehicles that emit smoke.[11]

More recently, a judgment by the Islamabad High Court in 2022, is of particular significance, as it addresses multiple issues. As stated by Justice Athar Minallah, “The questions raised in the petitions in hand manifest the willful and brazen disregard and abuse of the enforced laws by the very authorities and institutions created to protect the rights of the citizens through the implementation of enforced enactments promulgated by the legislature…” The case concerned the failure to uphold the laws that were to protect the Margalla Hills National Park, especially the Reserve Forest. It was established that Article 9 of the Constitution concerning right to life has been violated, immensely. A commission was formed which had to submit a report on the overall protection of environment in development of Islamabad, the capital over the years and to report on whether the legislations relevant such as The Islamabad (Preservation of Landscape) Ordinance, 1966 and Zoning Regulations of 1992 have been upheld or violated.[12]

This judgment, in particular, is considered crucial due to mainly two reasons. Firstly, the Court has addressed the fact that Pakistan happens to be one of the ten countries mostly under threat of climate change, providing in detail, the issues that are already present such as the water crisis, the floods that set Pakistan behind due to lack of preventative measures, etc. Secondly, the Court also held the governmental institutes such as the Federal Government, the Capital Development Authority and Islamabad Wildlife Management Board jointly and severely liable for destruction of the National Park.

Future improvements

In order to have a better sustainable future, it is necessary to make new improvements. These improvements starts in finding a solution⁵ that may help in a way or another in solving those environmental issues. It’s a responsibility on each person to start changing their behavior towards the nature to ensure the creation of a better environment. Generally it starts with an effective plan in which the authorities understand better the current issues so they will know more on what to concentrate[13].

As discussed previously about the issues hitting Pakistan’s nature, the governments as well as the businesses or the NGO’s that take care about the environment can start by planting more trees and protecting the forests. Lately, the government has launched some tree plantation drives. On another level, planting more trees helps in reducing air pollution. Moreover, authorities must take action to reduce the number of vehicles circling all day so the percentage of carbon and toxic gases can be decreased. More importantly, the government must take steps to ban people and companies from disposing their waste into oceans and lakes to keep the water clean from toxic substances.

Conclusion

While multiple issues persist in Pakistan, environmental preservation has been one that has been acknowledged and stressed upon by almost all and despite the severity rising, the efforts being made in order to combat the crisis cannot be disregarded. If the citizens were to comply along with the institutions showing active participation, the country can eventually witness a positive outcome.

[1] WWF, Valuing nature, ‘Our Forests, Rivers and Oceans are worth so much to us’.

< https://www.wwf.org.uk/what-we-do/valuing-nature#:~:text=Our%20forests%2C%20rivers%2C%20oceans%20and,the%20world’s%20’natural%20capital‘. > accessed 30 January 2023.

[2] National Today, World Nature Conservation Day.

< https://nationaltoday.com/world-nature-conservation-day/#:~:text=World%20Nature%20Conservation%20Day%20is,a%20stable%20and%20healthy%20society > accessed 30 January 2023.

[3] Human Development Reports, Nature and well-being: The foundations of Human Development.

< https://hdr.undp.org/content/nature-and-well-being-foundations-human-development?utm_source=EN&utm_medium=GSR&utm_content=US_UNDP_PaidSearch_Brand_English&utm_campaign=CENTRAL&c_src=CENTRAL&c_src2=GSR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjaD6vNPJ_AIVGJzVCh0lxgrjEAAYASAAEgJI-fD_BwE > accessed 30January 2023.

[4] United Nations Development Programme, Environmental Sustainability in Pakistan.

< https://www.undp.org/pakistan/publications/environmental-sustainability-pakistan?utm_source=EN&utm_medium=GSR&utm_content=US_UNDP_PaidSearch_Brand_English&utm_campaign=CENTRAL&c_src=CENTRAL&c_src2=GSR&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5KDw09XJ_AIVQY9oCR2cZw-hEAAYAyAAEgInp_D_BwE > accessed 30 January 2023.

[5] Ramsha Sadiq, ‘ Five Biggest Environmental Issues Affecting Pakistan and How to Solve Them (Zameen Blogs)

< https://www.zameen.com/blog/tips-solve-environmental-issues-pakistan.html > accessed 30 January 2023.

[6] Misha Khan, ‘Environmental Issues in Pakistan’ (Graana Blog, 24 March, 2022).

< https://www.graana.com/blog/environmental-issues-in-pakistan/ > accessed 30 January 2023

[7] Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, Brief on Environmental Policy and Legal Framework.

<https://environment.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/files/Downloads/interventions/environmentalissues/EnvironmentPolicyLegalFramework.pdf > accessed 30 January 2023.

[8] South-Asia Co-operative Environment Programme, Environmental Legislation and Institution in Pakistan, Chapter II, List of Environmental Issues, Policies, Legislation, Institutions and International Conventions.

< http://www.sacep.org/pdf/Reports-Technical/2001-UNEP-SACEP-Law-Handbook-Pakistan.pdf > accessed 30 January 2023.

[9] South-Asia Co-operative Environment Programme, Environmental Legislation and Institution in Pakistan, Chapter 9, national Environmental Governance.

< http://www.sacep.org/pdf/Reports-Technical/2001-UNEP-SACEP-Law-Handbook-Pakistan.pdf > accessed 30 January 2023.

[10] Shehla Zia v WAPDA [1994] PLD 1994 SC 693.

[11] Present Saleem Akhtar, J, In re: Pollution of Environment Caused by Smoke, Emitting Vehicles, Traffic Muddle, H. R. no. 4-K of 1992, decided on 1^st November, 1993 [1996] SCMR 543.

[12] Prof. Zahid Baig Mirza Versus Capital Development Authority Through Chairman & others [2022]

PLD 2022 ISL 398.

[13] Marcelo Acerbi, ‘For a Clean and Green Pakistan’ (World Bank Blogs, 8 May 2019).

< https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/clean-and-green-pakistan > accessed 30 January 2023.

Bibliography

Primary Sources:

Present Saleem Akhtar, J, In re: Pollution of Environment Caused by Smoke, Emitting Vehicles, Traffic Muddle, H. R. no. 4-K of 1992, decided on 1^st November, 1993 [1996] SCMR 543.

Prof. Zahid Baig Mirza Versus Capital Development Authority Through Chairman & others [2022]

PLD 2022 ISL 398.

Shehla Zia v WAPDA [1994] PLD 1994 SC 693.

Secondary Sources:

Acerbi M., ‘For a Clean and Green Pakistan’ (World Bank Blogs, 8 May 2019).

< https://blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/clean-and-green-pakistan > accessed 30 January 2023.

Human Development Reports, Nature and well-being: The foundations of Human Development.

Khan M., ‘Environmental Issues in Pakistan’ (Graana Blog, 24 March, 2022).

< https://www.graana.com/blog/environmental-issues-in-pakistan/ > accessed 30 January 2023.

National Today, World Nature Conservation Day.

< https://nationaltoday.com/world-nature-conservation-day/#:~:text=World%20Nature%20Conservation%20Day%20is,a%20stable%20and%20healthy%20society > accessed 30 January 2023.

Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, Brief on Environmental Policy and Legal Framework.