Pakistan: A Peep into Punjab’s Environmental Struggles

By Sudhir Chaudhry:

Satellite-based monitoring identified major pollution hotspots, though a reduction in certain atmospheric trace gases, such as CO and NO2, was observed compared to the previous year. The provincial government has taken steps to combat air pollution, including enhancing air quality monitoring, enforcing stricter pollution control laws, and introducing electric buses.

Water pollution and scarcity are pressing issues driven by population growth, urbanization, and industrialization. The Indus Basin Irrigation System, which supports a vast agricultural area, is under stress. Surface water quality in major cities like Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Faisalabad was rated as moderate to very poor, with significant contamination detected in groundwater samples. Most industrial units failed to comply with pollution parameters, contributing to widespread water pollution. Effective water management, recycling, and conservation efforts are crucial to mitigate these challenges.

Soil quality assessments across Punjab indicate moderate pollution levels, with certain regions suffering from high alkalinity and salinity due to irrigation with industrial effluents. While soils generally showed fertility with adequate nutrient levels, areas like Rawalpindi and Multan exhibited high pollution load indices. Sustainable agriculture practices and regular soil quality monitoring are essential to maintain soil health and productivity.

Climate change exacerbates these environmental issues, with Punjab experiencing significant temperature variations and urban flooding. The agriculture sector, a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, faces increased stress due to changing weather patterns. The government has established an Environment and Climate Change Cell and is pursuing international climate finance to support mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Smog, particularly in urban centers like Lahore, poses severe health risks. The implementation of the Punjab Clean Air Policy and Smog Prevention and Control Rules in 2023 aims to set standards for pollution sources and reduce smog occurrences. However, achieving long-term improvements requires sustained efforts and robust enforcement of environmental regulations.

Punjab’s environmental landscape is under rigorous scrutiny, revealing both strides and challenges in the quest for sustainability. The latest State of the Environment Report 2023 launched on June 5 sheds light on critical issues affecting the region, from air and water quality to soil health and climate change. While significant progress has been made, such as improved air quality monitoring and a reduction in certain atmospheric pollutants, many challenges persist. Air pollution remains a significant concern, with urban areas experiencing numerous days of poor to hazardous air quality.

Water scarcity and pollution also pose serious threats, exacerbated by rapid urbanization and industrialization. The report highlights a troubling decline in per capita water availability and widespread non-compliance with pollution parameters among industrial units. Soil quality assessments reveal moderate pollution levels, with some regions exhibiting high alkalinity and salinity due to industrial effluents.

The report, the second in its series, presents a comprehensive analysis of the region’s environmental status, following its inaugural edition in 2022. This latest report delves into the conditions affecting air, water, soil, climate change, wastewater, and solid waste management, leveraging updated data from both primary and secondary sources. It also outlines the remedial measures undertaken by the EPCCD Punjab and other relevant departments, alongside a meticulously crafted action plan aimed at environmental protection and conservation.

The SOE Report 2023 marks significant advancements based on feedback from stakeholders and identified gaps in the previous report. It expands upon sectors that were either briefly mentioned or omitted in the 2022 report, such as energy, industry, mines and minerals, forest cover change, agriculture, livestock, Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), and social aspects. A notable addition is a chapter dedicated to climate change. This report not only provides a clear picture of the environmental state and trends but also links these conditions to health impacts, highlighting that nearly 99 percent of the global population lives in areas exceeding WHO health protection thresholds.

A snapshot of Punjab reveals that ambient air quality monitoring conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in nine divisional headquarters (HQs) during August 2023 showed PM2.5 concentrations surpassing the PEQS value across all locations. Lahore’s Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) recorded the highest AQI-PM2.5 in January and the lowest in September. Despite an improvement in the number of good air quality days and a reduction in unhealthy days compared to 2022, urban residents still faced 113 days of poor to hazardous air quality out of 318 monitoring days. Overall, air quality in Lahore and the nine divisional HQs was rated as ‘Moderate.’ Satellite-based monitoring by SUPARCO identified major pollution hotspots in and around districts such as Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura, and others, though there was a noted decrease in atmospheric trace gases like CO and NO2 compared to 2022.

Compliance monitoring of industrial effluents from 232 units revealed widespread violations of PEQS permissible limits, while vehicle inspections in 2023 showed a 68% pass rate for safety fitness tests. To combat air pollution, the Punjab government has initiated several measures, including enhancing air quality monitoring setups, enforcing pollution control laws, implementing tree plantations, introducing electric buses, adopting climate-smart agricultural and water management practices, and constructing net-zero energy buildings.

Water quality issues in Punjab, driven by population growth, urbanization, and industrialization, remain pressing. The Indus Basin Irrigation System (IBIS), supporting 18 million hectares, has seen a drastic reduction in per capita water availability from over 5000 m3 in 1951 to 1100 m3 in 2005, with projections of further decline to 800 m3 by 2025. EPA divisional labs rated surface water quality in Lahore, Sheikhupura, and Faisalabad as ‘Moderate,’ while drains were deemed ‘Very Poor.’ Groundwater quality for irrigation was suitable in only 58% of samples, and WASA distribution systems were rated ‘Moderate’ with biological contamination concerns. Urban filtered water was generally rated ‘Good,’ except in DG Khan where arsenic contamination was reported.

Most industrial units were found non-compliant with pollution parameters, with non-compliance rates at 95.7% for BOD, 94.4% for COD, 91% for sulfide, 84.4% for temperature, and 81.7% for TSS. Major polluters included the leather and tanning industry, textile mills, sugar mills, protein factories, and paper and board mills. Effective water management, recycling, and conservation are crucial to addressing these challenges.

Soil quality assessments in nine divisions revealed predominantly neutral pH levels, except for slightly alkaline soils in DG Khan and areas with industrial effluent irrigation in Multan. Rawalpindi exhibited strongly sodic agricultural soil, while Lahore and Bahawalpur had sodic soils in effluent-irrigated areas. Punjab’s soils showed adequate nitrogen, potassium, and iron levels, though phosphorus levels were marginal. Pollution Load Index (PLI) indicated moderate pollution across all divisions, with Rawalpindi and Multan having the highest values. Regular soil quality monitoring and sustainable agricultural practices are essential for maintaining productivity and soil health.

Climate change remains a significant concern, with the agriculture sector contributing 46% of Pakistan’s GHG emissions and industrial particulate matter accounting for 23% in Punjab. Despite a cooler March-July 2023, overall temperatures were 0.51°C above normal, peaking at 46.6°C in June. Annual river flows of the Indus tributaries have decreased from 145.20 MAF in 1976 to 124.90 MAF in 2020. Urban flooding in August-September 2023 affected several districts, damaging homes and farmland. In response, the Punjab government is taking steps to mitigate climate change impacts, including establishing an Environment and Climate Change Cell and pursuing accreditation for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to align provincial actions with international obligations.

The performance of wastewater treatment and solid waste management facilities in Punjab remains a challenge. The region’s 434 industrial wastewater treatment plants are insufficient, compromising aquatic ecosystems and trade opportunities. Performance assessments revealed poor to very poor results, particularly in the textile, sugar, and thermal power industries. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation ranges from 115 tons/day in DG Khan to 5000 tons/day in Lahore, with higher rates in larger cities due to rapid population growth. Leachate from landfills showed BOD, COD, and TSS concentrations exceeding limits, and ambient air monitoring at landfill sites revealed high particulate matter levels. Incineration facility ash analysis found high unburnt carbon and the presence of heavy metals like lead, chromium, and copper. Punjab’s average MSW collection efficiency is poor, at 50% below the optimal level of 75%. Improved solid waste management requires additional technical and financial resources, integrated management practices, and strengthened policies.

The Environmental Protection Department (EPD) Punjab made significant strides in pollution control and environmental protection services, integrating business laws related to climate change. The EPCCD Green Building, Punjab’s first sustainable office building, exemplifies water conservation, energy efficiency, green material compliance, and improved indoor environmental quality. The Punjab Clean Air Policy and Smog Prevention and Control Rules, notified in 2023, set standards for brick kilns, industrial units, and pyrolysis plants to combat air pollution. Rules on single-use plastics were also enforced. Plans include installing nine additional AQMS in Lahore and 21 in other districts, along with 15 Water Quality Monitoring Stations at principal water bodies.

The EPA conducted numerous inspections, sealing 5970 air-polluting industrial sources and imposing fines totaling PKR 467 million for violations. Dengue inspections led to source removals and legal actions, while hospital waste management was enhanced. EPA Punjab envisions strengthened environmental governance through collaborations and regulatory improvements.

Environmental complaints are actively addressed through a formalized Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) that allows for complaints to be filed through various channels, including in-person visits, online platforms, and direct mail. In 2023, 908 complaints were received, primarily related to air pollution. Out of these, 552 were resolved, 83 units were sealed, and 42 FIRs were filed for non-compliance.

The Environmental Action Plan is a strategic document aimed at addressing environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development. The 2022 report introduced an Environmental Action Plan with specific interventions and sub-interventions, fixing responsibilities and timelines among provincial government departments. Significant achievements were made in various areas, including legislative measures, citizen engagement, industry regulation, vehicular emissions control, monitoring enhancements, and sustainable green financing. The EAP 2023, spanning three years, includes new interventions for air and climate change. A dashboard will be established for monitoring, with focal persons designated for collaboration with relevant