Environmental Loss

The environment has been under increasing danger from the sources of mankind and immediate action needs to be taken to keep the environment protected and sustained for the future. The environment provides us with a stable atmosphere and has countless functions and benefits. It is a healthy source of oxygen, provides fresh air, and gives us scenic beauty, amongst numerous other advantages. However, mankind has been gradually and steadily misusing and overusing the benefits provided by the environment, thus, causing damage. In Pakistan, the main environmental problems include extensive pollution, rapid occurrence of deforestation and contribution to global warming because of the highly active agriculture sector.  These problems are certainly being addressed through regular checks on industrial and domestic pollution, afforestation programmes and use of alternatives for cattle.  

The streets of Pakistan are consumed in air, water and land pollution. The major source is the industries which dump their waste into nearby water bodies. The Pakistan Steel Mill, located near the Indus waters, often dumps its waste into lakes. Haleji Lake, once a source of freshwater has now become highly polluted. The congestion from traffic has led to severe air pollution as harmful gases are constantly being added to the atmosphere. Gases from fossil fuel industries and mining are released into the atmosphere causing further pollution. The fishing industry often dumps fish waste onto open lands which creates infections and pollution in the surrounding areas. The factories in Ibrahim Hyderi tend to dump fish waste on the nearby lands where houses are located. Also, the sewage water from these industries flows directly towards these residential areas. This results in water borne diseases like malaria and severe pollution. Pollution is being tackled in Pakistan to a minor extent. The environment is being polluted at a faster rate than it is being cleaned. Government organistaions are formed which pay regular visits to various industrial areas to keep the waste released by factories under control. Many awareness programmes about the harmful effects of pollution are being initiated. IUCN is an organization helping to protect the environment. It has projects focused on wetlands and polluted areas such as the Indus river. However, more effective implementation is required for pollution levels to decrease.

Another increasingly common issue faced by Pakistan is the rapid clearing of forest cover. Tropical forests have nearly been lost, decreasing the biodiversity level. Trees are being cut down regularly due to an increase in population and urbanization, which requires availability of land for industrial use. The wood is being used for firewood, medical purposes, furniture making and various other reasons. The clearing away of forests leads to a loss of habitat for many species of animals. Also, oxygen levels in the surrounding environment drop and so does the beauty which was previously present because of forest cover. Deforestation is occurring at an alarmingly high rate and people do not realize the damage being caused to the environment. Desertification has increased. The coniferous forests in Northern areas are also diminishing. The tropical and subtropical rainforests have reduced significantly and this environmental loss is of great worry as it disrupts the functioning of the atmosphere. Afforestation programmes have been launched to increase oxygen levels around the atmosphere but a large percentage of Pakistan’s land is now arid and infertile.

Lastly, the greenhouse gases released by the active agriculture industry of Pakistan is leading to a slow increase in global warming which is the increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere. The major source of greenhouse gases is methane gas released by cattle and carbon dioxide released from fertilizers and pesticides. Not many effective measures are taken to control the release of these gases as the functioning of the agricultural industry is vital for the economy of Pakistan.

In conclusion, the significant environmental problems of pollution, global warming and deforestation are rising day by day without the notice of the average citizen. Effective measures are not being taken to a great extent as there is a rapid need of resources by the citizens of Pakistan.