Pakistan: Introduction

Environmental

Issues

Poor natural resource management over many years and continuing high population growth have had a negative impact on Pakistan's environment. Agricultural runoff--caused by ongoing deforestation--and industrial runoff have polluted water supplies, and factory and vehicle emissions have degraded air quality in the urban centers. Similar to other developing countries, Pakistan has focused on achieving self-sufficiency in food production, meeting energy demands, and containing its high rate of population growth rather than on curtailing pollution or other environmental ha ards. As a result, !green! concerns have not been the government's top priority. "et, as Pakistan's cities suffer from the effects of air pollution and unplanned development has caused degradation, environmental issues have become more salient. Safeguarding public health, as well as preserving Pakistan's natural wonders, has made environmental protection increasingly important. #n an attempt to redress the previous inattention to the nation's mounting environmental problems, in $%%& the government issued its 'ational (onservation Strategy )eport *'(S)+ outlining Pakistan's state of environmental health, its sustainable goals, and viable program options for the future with the 'ational (onservation ,oals -uilding on the Pakistan .nvironmental Protection /rdinance of $%01, the '(S) stipulated three goals for the country's environmental protection efforts2 conservation of natural resources3 promotion of sustainable development3 and improvement of efficiency in the use and management of resources. 4ourteen program areas were targeted for priority implementation, including energy efficiency improvements, renewable resource development5deployment, pollution prevention5reduction, urban waste management, institutional support of common resources, and integration of population and environmental programs. #n addition, in $%%1 Pakistan applied 'ational .nvironmental 6uality Standards *'.6S+ *)evised in $%%%+ to municipal and liquid industrial effluents and industrial gaseous emissions, motor vehicle e7haust, and noise. 8owever, attempts to legislate environmental protection have fallen short, and regulations have not been enforced strongly. .nforcement does not imply effectiveness, though--even if regulations were strictly enforced, many industries would be unable to comply2 when new revised environmental regulations were implemented in $%%%, only 19 of industries were able to pass the test for compliance. Air Pollution :he level of air pollution in Pakistan's two largest cities, ;arachi and <ahore, is estimated to be &= times higher than >orld 8ealth /rgani ation standards, and continuing to rise. #slamabad, the capital, is perpetually smothered by a thick cloud of smog that hides views of the ?argalla 8ills that tower over the city's tree-lined streets. As industry has e7panded, factories have emitted more and more to7ic effluents into the air. Also, as in other developing countries, the number of vehicles in Pakistan has swelled in recent years--from @0=,=== in $%0= to 1.0 million in $%%0. Although the number of motor vehicles *$

per $A1 people+ in Pakistan is still well below that of the B.S. *$ per $.1 people+, the $%%& 'ational (onservation Strategy )eport claims that the average Pakistani vehicle emits &C times as much carbon dio7ide as the average B.S. vehicle, as well as &= times as many hydrocarbons and more than 1.C times as many nitrous o7ides in grams per kilometer. >ith few controls on vehicular emissions and little enforcement, reports show that motor vehicle e7haust accounts for %=9 of the pollutants in Pakistan's air. :he government has begun to take notice of the degrading air quality in the capital, which adversely affects the health of some $@ million people. A recent advertisement placed by the government in a newspaper warned, !:ake care of your tune-ups before the poison in the air takes care of you.! ?any Pakistani environmentalists say that poor fuel quality is also to blame for the country's serious air pollution problems. 4uel consumption rose by $009 in Pakistan from $%0= to $%%0. An estimated CC= metric tons per year of lead emissions are generated by vehicles in Pakistan burning poor-quality fuel, with the resulting air pollution adding about DC== million per year in related health care costs. Earious grades of gasoline sold contain =.1C gm5liter of lead--in comparison, leaded gas in other countries usually contains no more than =.$C gm5liter. Fr. Asif 6ayyum 6ureshi, a research fellow at SFP#, claimed that the problem of air pollution could largely be solved if the government were to tighten its la7 fuel quality standards. 8owever, the government's $%%C (lean 4uel #nitiative was largely ineffective, and now authorities are looking at the possibility of using alternative fuels for vehicles. According to the latest statistics, more than &GC (', stations are in operation and over &GC,=== cars have been converted to (',, making Pakistan third largest (', consumer in the world after Argentina and #taly. Bse of (', in vehicles is being encouraged to reduce pressure on petroleum imports, to reduce carbon emissions and improve the environment. Energy Consumption Pakistan's energy consumption has nearly tripled in the last &= years. 4rom =.@ quadrillion -tu in $%0=, Pakistan's total energy consumption in $%%0 stood at $.G quads. Still, Pakistan accounts for only =.C9 of total world energy consumption. #n terms of per capita energy consumption, Pakistan's level of $&.1 million -tu in $%%0 is higher than -angladesh's *1.1 million -tu+ but virtually on par with #ndia's *$&.% million+. #n comparison, (hina's per capita energy consumption in $%%0 was &G.= million -tu, #ran's was G&.A million -tu, and )ussia's was $GG.1 million -tu, while B.S. per capita consumption was 1C=.G million -tu. Pakistan's energy consumption by sector shows that nearly half *A%9+ is attributed to residential. :he industrial sector accounted for most of the rest with 11.C9, while transportation made up $1.&9 and the commercial sector was responsible for A.19. .nergy consumption by fuel type showed that oil made up A1.C9, natural gas 10.19, and coal Hust C.$9.

Carbon and Pakistan's carbon emissions in $%%0 totaled &@.0 million metric tons3 nearly triple the $%0= level of %.1 million metric tons. "et, Pakistan accounts for only =.A9 of the world's carbon emissions, and its emissions are relatively low compared to its neighbors in the region2 #ran's emissions have climbed from 11.$ million metric tons of carbon in $%0= to G%.A million metric tons in $%%0, while #ndia's carbon emissions have Humped from 0&.& million metric tons in $%0= to &C&.@ million metric tons in $%%0.

Energy-Related

Emissions

-ecause Pakistan, along with other developing countries, has argued that it needs to be free of emission ceilings in order to develop its economy, the country has not taken on any emission reduction commitments under the Bnited 'ations 4ramework (onvention on (limate (hange, nor is Pakistan a signatory to the ;yoto Protocol. Pakistan's per capita carbon emissions in $%%0 were =.& metric tons. #n comparison, -angladesh emitted =.$ metric tons of carbon per person, while #ndia's level was =.1 metric tons per capita. (hina's per capita carbon emissions level in $%%0 was =.@, #ran's level was $.1, and the B.S. value was C.C metric tons per person. Sectorally, Pakistan's carbon emissions mainly came from the industrial sector *AC.$9+, while transportation accounted for &G.$9, the residential sector for &&.19, and the commercial sector C.@9. /f these emissions, oil was responsible for C@9, with natural gas *1C.G9+ and coal *0.19+ making up for the rest. Energy and Carbon Intensity Pakistan's energy intensity--energy generated per dollar spent--is high due to the inefficiencies of the state-run power sector in generating electricity and transmitting it across the national grid. Poor quality infrastructure, as well as power theft, means that Pakistan does not generate the amount of electricity it needs to, necessitating rotating blackouts. #n $%%1, the >orld -ank estimated that &09 of the electricity generated in Pakistan was diverted illegally in

transmission and distribution. Although the Pakistani government put this figure at $&9, theft has nonetheless e7acerbated the country's high energy intensity. #n $%%0 Pakistan's energy intensity stood at 1=,G== -tu5D$%%=--more than double the Bnited States' energy intensity of $1,A== -tu5D$%%= in $%%0. #n comparison to its neighbors, Pakistan's level of energy intensity was slightly higher. -angladesh's $%%0 energy intensity was significantly lower at $1,&== -tu5D$%%=, while #ran *&@,%== -tu5D$%%=+ and #ndia *&G,&=1 -tu5 D$%%=+ were Hust below Pakistan and (hina *1%,$== -tu5D$%%=+ was higher than Pakistan. Pakistan's lack of coal reserves has kept the country's carbon intensity down, but the level is still high. (arbon emissions from vehicles are the main reason behind Pakistan's $%%0 carbon intensity of =.AG metric tons of carbon5thousand D$%%=. :he comparable B.S. level of carbon intensity was =.&$. Although #ran *=.AG+ matched Pakistan's $%%0 carbon intensity level, both #ndia *=.CG+ and (hina *=.0C+ were significantly higher. /nly -angladesh *=.&$+ was lower than Pakistan in terms of carbon intensity in the south Asian region. Renewable Energy )enewable energy consumed in Pakistan in $%%G totaled $,$1& trillion -tu, a $9 increase from $%%@. 8ydroelectric power is an important domestic energy source, generating A=9 of all electricity in the country, and a number of new sites are being developed. Although the mountainous north gives Pakistan much hydroelectric potential, difficulty of access and the high cost of transmission to the populous south make development of this potential a distant prospect. 'evertheless, the Pakistani government has started working on feasibility studies for the construction of more dams, with feasibility reports of at least five small dams e7pected to be completed by the end of &===. #ndeed, some development of renewable energy sources has been undertaken precisely because of the population's difficulty of access. #n order to provide electricity to rural areas that would otherwise not have electricity in the foreseeable future *because they are either too remote and5or too e7pensive to connect to the national grid+, Pakistan is turning to solar power. Pakistan recently signed a DC=-million memorandum of understanding with >orld>ater, an American company, to assemble and manufacture plants to build its solar modules and electronic controls to power water pumps and electric accessories. :he government hopes that, by harnessing solar power for energy in rural areas, it will reduce villages' reliance on firewood. Pakistan is still shifting to modern energy sources, with firewood, dung, and bagasse *the woody residue left over from crushed sugarcane+ making up one-third of all energy consumed in Pakistan as recently as $%00. Pakistan's government is hoping that solargenerated electricity will improve rural life, thereby reducing the urban migration that is ta7ing the ability of cities to cope with their own environmental problems. #n $%%A Pakistan had one nuclear power plant, near ;arachi. :he plant, which was built in $%@C with (anadian assistance, has demonstrated a poor operating record, which--in addition to concerns in the international community about Pakistan's possible use of nuclear material for weapons--has contributed to the lack of further development of the country's nuclear power sector. 8owever, the (hashma 'uclear Power Plant, which has been built with (hinese

assistance but has been repeatedly delayed in coming online, is scheduled for completion in &===. Pakistan in the 2 st Century 4ollowing early successes in Pakistan's implementing its 'ational (onservation Strategy, progress has stalled due to institutional failure on the part of the government policies and practices. #n addition to policy ineffectiveness and corruption, Pakistan has not funded environmental protection efforts adequately. A Ianuary &=== report released by the ?inistry of .nvironment showed that Pakistan currently spends about D$G million per year on pollutionrelated cleanup3 however, D0A million is needed to correct the country's environmental problems, and D$.0 billion per year in added health care costs stem from pollution-related causes. A lack of funding is evident in Pakistan's environmental protection efforts. :he former government cited lack of funds as the reason for delay in establishing the Pakistan .nvironment Protection (ouncil, an environmental protection watchdog group that the government had agreed to set up several years ago *but only recently established+. 8owever, the SFP# has estimated that the government allocates Hust =.=A9 of the total public sector development program budget on the environment, and G=9 of the funds for environment are loans from foreign lenders. :he SFP# has estimated the staggering cost of environmental neglect in Pakistan as between 19-C9 of ,FP, proHected to reach A9-09 by &=$=. A >orld -ank pilot proHect in the province of -alochistan, if successful, could prove a national model for protecting Pakistan's environment and managing its natural resources. #n addition to strengthening -alochistan's institutions involved with environmental protection and natural resource use so they are better able to undertake their responsibilities, the proHect seeks to empower local communities and involve them in the design and implementation of natural resources' development and management. :he proHect also will work to improve provincial natural resources use policies so that natural resources are used in an efficient and sustainable manner, publici e environmental issues, and implement high priority operations and pilot programs to rehabilitate and develop damaged natural resources. :he >orld -ank's pilot programs are designed according to the obHectives and strategies of Pakistan's 'ational (onservation Strategy. 8owever, Pakistan's previous environmental record is poor, and the country has not been able to back up its commitment to environmental protection with action until now. #t is clear that Pakistan will need to place greater emphasis on environmental protection in order to stem the country's environmental degradation and safeguard citi ens' health. E!"IR#!$E!% Pakistan's attempt to raise the living standards of its citi ens has meant that economic development has largely taken precedence over environmental issues. Bnchecked use of ha ardous chemicals, vehicle emissions, and industrial activity has contributed to a number of environmental and health ha ards, chief among them being water pollution. ?uch of the country suffers from a lack of potable water due to industrial waste and agricultural runoff that contaminates drinking water supplies. Poverty and high population growth have aggravated, and to a certain e7tent, caused, these environmental problems.

Although Pakistan is renowned for its mountain ranges and areas of untouched wilderness, the country passed legislation to protect its environment only in the past $= years. .nvironmental groups have questioned the country's commitment to environmental protection, pointing to the decision in August $%%% to allow oil and gas e7ploration in ;irthar 'ational Park, the country's oldest national wildlife park, by a multi-national company. #n the cities, widespread use of low-quality fuel, combined with a dramatic e7pansion in the number of vehicles on Pakistani roads, has led to significant air pollution problems. Although Pakistan's energy consumption is still low by world standards, lead and carbon emissions are maHor air pollutants in urban centers such as ;arachi, <ahore, and #slamabad. :heft or diversion of electricity in transmission, as well as a lack of energy efficiency standards, have contributed to Pakistan's high energy and carbon intensities. :o increase energy efficiency, the country is stepping up its use of renewable energy sources to bring electricity to rural areas. As urbani ation continues and the population grows at a rapid rate, in the &$st century Pakistan will need to confront its environmental problems in order to safeguard the health of it citi ens. PRE&E!% PR#'EC%&( .PA Sindh presently is working on a proHect J Eehicular .missions (ontrol ProgrammeK *E.(oP+. :he aim is initiation of a sustainable campaign for monitoring vehicles that could be classifies as polluting, both in terms of emissions and noise levels. 4ield monitoring teams will be formed at three cities *;arachi, 8yderabad and Sukkur+ for monitoring the traffic at various pre-selected locations for identifying and penali ing the vehicles emitting smoke from their e7haust and producing noise that seems to be in e7cess to the premisible limits. -eside field monitoring teams, the ,reen Squads for Eehicluar .mission :esting Station *E.:S+ will also be established. .ach ,reen Squad will include a nominee from S.PA *inspector+, a field analyst, inspector, and necessary persons from traffic or other law enforcing agencies. C#)!%R* #"ER"IE+ President: ,eneral Pervai ?usharraf *President since Iuly &==$3 (hief .7ecutive from /ctober $%%%.+ Independence: August $A, $%AG *from B;+ Population ,-./ E0: $AA.@ million 1ocation.&i2e: Southern Asia51$=,C== square miles *about twice the si e of (alifornia+ $a3or Cities: #slamabad *capital+, ;arachi, <ahore, 4aisalabad 1anguages: Brdu *national5official+, .nglish *official+, PunHabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, -aloch Ethnic 4roups: PunHabi, Sindhi, Pashtun *Pathan+, -aloch, ?uhaHir *immigrants from #ndia and their descendants+ Religions: ?uslim, %G9 *Sunni GG9, Shia &=9+3 (hristian, 8indu, and other, 19 5e6ense ,7.870: Army *C&=,===+3 Air 4orce *AC,===+3 'avy *&&,===+3 Paramilitary 4orces *&AG,===+ EC#!#$IC Currency: Average E9change #"ER"IE+ Pakistani Rate ,2.2-./20: B.S.D$ )upee L @&.%

rupees

4ross 5omestic Product ,45P: market e9change rates: 2// E0: DC@.0 billion Real 45P 4rowth Rate ,2// E0: 1.C9 ,2//2;02 C.A9 In6lation Rate ,2// E0: A.$9 ,2//2;0: C.&9 Current Account <alance ,2// E0: -D$.% billion $erchandise %rade <alance ,2// E0: -D$.@ billion %otal E9ternal 5ebt ,2// E0: D1A.$ billion $a3or %rading Partners: Bnited States, Iapan, ,ermany, Bnited ;ingdom, and Saudi Arabia $a3or E9port Products: )aw cotton and te7tiles3 rice3 leather manufactures $a3or Import Products: Petroleum3 machinery and transport equipment3 food E!ER4* #"ER"IE+ Proven #il Reserves , . ./2E0: &%0 million barrels #il Production ,2// E0: CG,=== barrels per day *bbl5d+, of which C1,=== bbl5d was crude oil #il Consumption ,2// E0: 1C%,=== bbl5d !et #il Imports , 888E0: 1=&,=== bbl5d Crude #il Re6ining Capacity , . ./2E0: &10,0C= bbl5d !atural 4as Reserves , . ./2E0: &C.$ trillion cubic feet *:cf+ !atural 4as Production , 888E0: =.0 :cf !atural 4as Consumption , 888E0: =.0 :cf Coal Production , 888E0: 1.0 million short tons *?mst+ Coal Consumption , 888E0: A.% ?mst !et Coal Imports , 888E0: $.$ ?mst Recoverable Coal Reserves , 2.= .8>E0: 1.& billion short tons Electric 4eneration Capacity , . .88E0: $G.= gigawatts *G$9 thermal, &09 hydro, $9 nuclear+ Electricity 4eneration , 888E0: @& billion kilowatthours E!"IR#!$E!%A1 #"ER"IE+ %otal Energy Consumption , 888E0: $.0 quadrillion -tuM *=.AG9 of world total energy consumption+ Energy-Related Carbon Emissions , 888E0: &G.% million metric tons of carbon *=.AC9 of world total carbon emissions+ Per Capita Energy Consumption , 888E0: $&.C million -tu *vs. B.S. value of 1CC.0 million -tu+ Per Capita Carbon Emissions , 888E0: =.& metric tons of carbon *vs. B.S. value of C.C metric tons of carbon+ Energy Intensity , 888E0: 1$,$%1 -tu5D$%%= *vs B.S. value of $&,@10 -tu5D$%%=+MM Carbon Intensity , 888E0: =.A0 metric tons of carbon5thousand D$%%= *vs B.S. value of =.$% metric tons5thousand D$%%=+MM &ectoral &hare o6 Energy Consumption , 887E0: )esidential *A0.09+, #ndustrial *11.A9+, :ransportation *$1.19+, (ommercial *A.C9+ &ectoral &hare o6 Carbon Emissions , 887E0: #ndustrial *AA.%9+, :ransportation *&G.&9+, )esidential *&&.&9+, (ommercial *C.G9+ ;uel &hare o6 Energy Consumption , 888E0: /il *A$.%9+, 'atural ,as *A=.=9+, (oal *C.=9+ ;uel &hare o6 Carbon Emissions , 888E0: /il *CA.@9+, 'atural ,as *1G.A9+, (oal *0.=9+ Renewable Energy Consumption , 887E0: $,$AC trillion -tuM *$9 increase from $%%G+

!umber o6 People per $otor "ehicle , 887E0: $&C *vs. B.S. value of $.1+ &tatus in Climate Change !egotiations: 'on-Anne7 # country under the Bnited 'ations 4ramework (onvention on (limate (hange *ratified Iune $st, $%%A+. 'ot a signatory to the ;yoto Protocol. $a3or Environmental Issues: Air pollution from industrial units and vehicles, >ater pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff3 limited natural fresh water resources3 a maHority of the population does not have access to potable water3 deforestation3 soil erosion and desertification. $a3or International Environmental Agreements: A party to (onventions on -iodiversity, (limate (hange, Fesertification, .ndangered Species, .nvironmental ?odification, 8a ardous >astes, <aw of the Sea, 'uclear :est -an, / one <ayer Protection, Ship Pollution and >etlands . 8as signed, but not ratified, ?arine <ife (onservation. M :he total energy consumption statistic includes petroleum, dry natural gas, coal, net hydro, nuclear, geothermal, solar, wind, wood and waste electric power. :he renewable energy consumption statistic is based on #nternational .nergy Agency *#.A+ data and includes hydropower, solar, wind, tide, geothermal, solid biomass and animal products, biomass gas and liquids, industrial and municipal wastes. Sectoral shares of energy consumption and carbon emissions are also based on #.A data. MM,FP based on .#A #nternational .nergy Annual $%%% E!ER4* I!5)&%R* #rgani2ation: /il and ,as Fevelopment (orporation */,F(+, a state company, handles oil and gas e7ploration and development3 >ater and Power Fevelopment Authority *>APFA+ supplies electricity to most of the country3 ;arachi .lectric Supply (orporation <imited *;.S(+ serves the greater ;arachi metropolitan area3 Pakistan Atomic .nergy (ommission *PA.(+ operates one nuclear power plant $a3or ;oreign Energy Company Involvement: A.S, Atlantic )ichfield, -ritish 'ational Power, (oastal Power, ,a de 4rance, :otal, ,eneral .lectric, <asmo /il *B.;.+, ?arubeni *Iapan+, .77on?obil, ?onument /il N ,as, Premier /il, )oyal Futch Shell, Oenal *Saudi Arabia+ $a3or Ports: ,wadar, ;arachi, ?uhammed bin 6asim, /rmaro $a3or 4as ;ields: -hit, Fhodak, ;adanwari, ?ari, Prikoh, 6adipur, Sawan, Sui $a3or #il ;ields: Fhurnal, 4imkasser, <iari, ?a ari, :hora $a3or Pipelines: Sui 'orthern ,as Pipeline3 Sui Southern ,as Pipeline3 Pak-Arab )efinery (ompany *PA)(/+ petroleum product pipeline $a3or Re6ineries ,Capacity0: Pak-Arab )efinery near ?ultan *$==,=== bbl5d+3 Attock )efinery in )awalpindi *1C,=== bbl5d+, 'ational )efinery in ;orangi *@&,=C= bbl5d+, Pakistan )efinery <td. in ;arachi *A@,1== bbl5d+ #rfanullah :unio