In an era of unprecedented urbanization, population and industrial growth pressure is serious threat for the water management in Pakistan in present days. Water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff limited natural fresh water resources in the country. Human health is facing serious problems due to deteriorating drinking water quality. Current review paper provides an insight to the water quality problems in Pakistan with an attempt to emphasize the challenges of water laws enforcement. Although Pakistan has developed many water laws the state of implementation is dominant, intermediate pollution crises are still remaining. We could come to the conclusion that strictly enforcement is compulsory for water environment regulations in Pakistan. Moreover, it is necessary to establish a reliable risk assessment system for water quality, human health and ecological safety.
Relationships between water and other development-related sectors such as population, energy, food, and environment, and the interactions among them require analysis, as they together will determine future food security and pollution reduction [
Everyday two million tons of sewage industrial and agricultural waste is discharged into the world’s water. FAO [
The world’s 1.1 billion people lack access to basic water supplies and half of the developing world’s population suffers from diseases due to water contamination [
Unsafe water causes 4 million diarrheal diseases and 2.2 million deaths in each year [
The water shortages and increasing competition for multiple uses of water has adversely affected the quality of water. Consequently, most of the reported health problems are directly or indirectly related to polluted water in the country [
In the provinces of Pakistan, Sindh 24%, NWFP 46% and Blochishtan 72% of population rely on unsafe water sources [
Years | Population (million) | Per capita availability (m3) |
---|---|---|
1951 | 34 | 5000 |
1961 | 46 | 3950 |
1971 | 65 | 2700 |
1981 | 84 | 2100 |
1991 | 115 | 1600 |
2000 | 148 | 1200 |
2013 | 178 | 1105 |
2015 | 190 | 1000 |
2025 | 267 | 659 |
Sources: Hassan Ahmed Khan ppt on water pollution in Pakistan. 30 June 2010 that was consists on prediction but after five years now situation is different. So here are some changes according to current situation.
The reasons why the Pakistan continuously fails in protecting water sources from scarcity and pollution have many aspects. The main reasons including unclear strategies of laws and polices enforcement and no coordination between relevant departments, lack of accountability and transparency of water based regulatory authorities, corrupt and incompetent governmental functionaries, lack of public participation. 1) There should be a strict legislation system that would serve as a base for monitoring the implementation of water pollution laws and polices; 2) For environmental legislation to “work” it must not only be well designed but also efficiently and effectively enforced. Strategies must be developed; 3) Pakistan’s decision makers and those in power are not directly affected by water insecurities and have little incentive to change the system or make water management reform a priority
There are alternative views on population-environment linkages [
At the time of independence in 1947, 32.5 million people lived in Pakistan. By 2006-2007, the population is estimated to have reached 156.77 million. Thus, in roughlythree generations, Pakistan’s population has increased by 124.27 million or has grown at an average rate of 2.6 percent per annum. The present population of the country is 188 million will increase to nearly 190 million by 2016, to over 220 million by 2020 and to almost 275 million by 2050, as Pakistan retains its position as the sixth most populous country in the world [
Year | Population (million) | Population growth rate (%) | Urbanization (% of population) | Industrialization (share of manufacturing in real GDP in %) | Water demand for domestic use (MAF) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | 84.9 | 3.0 | 24.1 | 13.8 | |
1990 | 110.8 | 2.6 | 34.7 | 17.4 | 4.1 |
2000 | 140.5 | 2.1 | 47.5 | 23.0 | 5.2 |
2010 | 177.1 | 2.1 | 36 | 25.4 | |
2025 | 228.8 | 2.4 | 49.3 | 9.7 |
Sources: Population Reference Bureau (2004); Ministry of Finance & Economic Affairs (2004, 2001); Federal Bureau of Statistics (1991); Kahlown and Majeed (2002).
The pressure on water resources caused by industrial growth also merits discussion due to their significant contribution to water pollution problems. It has been estimated that around 2000 million gallon of sewage is being discharge to surface water bodies everyday in Pakistan [
Arsenic Toxicity Investigations revealed the presence of excessive arsenic in many cities of Punjab and Sindh provinces was found to be 50 ppb five times higher than the prescribed limit of 10 ppb by WHO [
Detailed data analysis has identified 4 major water quality tribulations in drinking water sources of Pakistan i.e. bacteriological (68%), arsenic (24%), nitrate (13%) and fluoride (5%). The five years trend analysis has revealed that out of a total 357, only 45 water sources (13%) were found “Safe” and the remaining 312 (87%) were “Unsafe” for drinking purpose. The water quality monitoring (2001-2010) conducted in rural and urban areas of the country revealed that access to save drinking water is only 15 percent in urban and 18 percent in rural areas.
On the behalf of PCRWR survey published in 2012, 88% of the functional water supply schemes in Pakistan provide water that is unsafe for drinking because of microbiological contamination [
The Nation-wide Assessment Survey of more than 10,000 water supply schemes (1808 urban and 8320 rural water supply schemes) carried out by the PCRWR revealed that 72 percent schemes are operational and only 23 percent in urban and 14 percent in rural areas water supply schemes are supplying safe drinking water [
In Pakistan contamination of drinking water with industrial wastes and municipal sewage coupled with lack of
Name of city | Contamination level in 2002 % | Contamination level in 2006 % |
---|---|---|
Islamabad | 40 | 74 |
Faisalabad | 38 | 79 |
Bahawalpur | 52 | 75 |
Gujranwala | 29 | 71 |
Gujrat | 56 | 100 |
Kasur | 40 | 50 |
Lahore | 37 | 63 |
Multan | 31 | 87 |
Rawalpindi | 53 | 87 |
Sheikhupura | 27 | 55 |
Sialkot | 40 | 70 |
Sargodha | 75 | 92 |
Khuzdar | 62 | 100 |
Loralai | 73 | 100 |
Quetta | 48 | 68 |
Ziarat | 100 | |
Mangora | 40 | 70 |
Mardan | 75 | 83 |
Peshawar | 31 | 77 |
Abbottabad | 55 | 73 |
Hyderabad | 73 | 100 |
Karachi | 61 | 100 |
Sukkur | 67 | 83 |
Sources: PCRWR report 2002-2006.
water disinfection practices and quality monitoring at treatment plants is the main cause of the prevalence of waterborne diseases [
Around 62 percent of Pakistan’s urban and 84 percent of its rural population does not treat their water, resulting in 100 million cases of diarrheal diseases registered in hospitals, with 40 percent of deaths attributed to drinking polluted water. The diarrhea which is a water-linked disease, accounts for 14% of illnesses, One third of under-five deaths in children [
According to estimation 250,000 child deaths occur each year in Pakistan due to water-borne diseases [
In 1997 a regulatory framework known as PEPA Act 1997 was approved to regulate and monitor issues regarding environmental protection in the country [
Date | Legislation | Implementation | Key feature |
---|---|---|---|
1860 | Pakistan Penal Code | Federal Penalizes | Water pollution as a public health issue |
1873 | Canal and Drainage Act | Federal and provincial | Governs irrigation water use |
1882 | Easement Act | Federal | Grants and limits rights for water pollution |
1883 | Land Improvement Loans Act | Provincial | Provides loans for water distribu-tion, drainage, and reclamation |
1905 | Punjab Minor Canals Act | Provincial | Governs irrigation water use |
1927 | Forests Act | Federal and Provincial | Governs disposal of waste and effluent |
1934 | Factories Act | Federal | Penalizes pollution of water in forests |
1949 | Karachi Joint Water Board Ordinance | Municipal | Prohibits pollution of water supply; first water law at municipal level |
1952 | Punjab Development of Damaged Areas Act | Provincial | Allows government to construct sewage and drainage in “damaged areas” |
1958 | West Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority Act | Provincial and Federal | Establishes what is today the Water and Power Development Authority |
1960 | Indus Waters Treaty | International | Governs sharing of Indus River waters between Pakistan and India |
1976 | Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act | Federal, International | Declares maritime territory and boundaries |
1980 | Sindh Fisheries Ordinance | Provincial | Prohibits dumping of pollutants in water |
1981 | On-Farm Water Manage-ment and Water Users’ Association Ordinance | Federal | Provides resources for improved irrigation water managemen |
1991 | Indus River System Accord | Provincial | Governs water sharing between provinces |
1997 | Provincial Irrigation and Drainage Authority Acts | Provincial | Implements irrigation reforms |
1997 | Environmental Protection Act | Federal | Governs protection, conservation, rehabilitation, pollution, and improvement of environment |
2009 | National Drinking Water | Federal | Provides institutional framework and guidelines for provinces to assure quality and supply of drinking water |
2010 | 18th Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan | Federal | Devolves Ministry of Environment to provinces, establishes forums for interprovincial dialogue |
2011 | Punjab Environmental Protection (Amendment) Bill | Provincial | Establishes Punjab Ministry of Environment |
Source: Jawad Hassan, Environmental Laws of Pakistan (Lahore: Book Biz, 2006).
1997, The Sindh Irrigation Act 1879, Provincial legislation such as the BGWRA Ordinance, IX Of 1978, established regulatory and supervisory functions for the Provincial Water Board and a Water Committee to overlook the implementation of the policies of the Water Board [
Furthermore, the National Government has approved various water policies and guidelines. In November 2002 national standards for drinking water quality were introduced. Similarly other policies including National Environment Policy 2005, [
Under the National Drinking Water Policy 2009, water was the basic human right of every citizen [
As per policy mandates that the safe drinking water be accessible to both urban and rural areas. The policy declares that various forms of legislation are to be enacted to ensure the implementation of these measures, including the Pakistan Safe Drinking Water Act [
Although Pakistan has comprehensive national laws and policies related to water pollution control and institutional framework for environmental management, yet there are significant weaknesses in the current administrative and implementation capacity. Water disputes in Pakistan are chronic. The perennial irrigation water shortages create conflict between provinces. The lack of water laws that define water rights often pit users against each other. Most of the water-related legislation and regulations, dating back to colonial rule as evident in
Although ordinances, acts and policies have been approved from time to time, therefore clear strategies are so far from their implementation. As a result, after appropriate and necessary administrative capacity on paper, its effectiveness is seriously curtailed in practice. The industries do not follow the national standards for pollutants in their waste effluents. Industrial effluent is to be regulated by environment protection agencies through self-monitoring and reporting programmes under PEPA Act, but proverbially, enforcement is lax [
Targeting strategy | Provide water to un-served or under-served areas where the access to clean drinking water have walk of 0.5 KM |
---|---|
Legislative strategy | Encourage the participation of private sector. community participation, public-private partnership and role of NGOs |
Protection of water resources | Protection of surface and ground water sources in urban and rural areas |
Institutional strategy | Strengthen the institutions and their services of providing drinking water at federal, provincial and local government level |
Technical strategy | Technical assistance to the provincial and local agencies, support clean drinking water initiative project by the federal government and provincial water filtration plants at tehsil and union council level |
Operation and maintenance (O&M) strategy | WASA and TMA are responsible for the O&M in urban areas. TMA is only responsible for O&M in rural areas |
Drinking water quality standards | Using the WHOs drinking water quality guidelines both in urban and rural areas |
Water quality monitoring and surveillance | PQCA and PCRWR ensure the water quality standard through surveillance of water quality from different sources |
Gender strategy | Female participation in decision making at the district, tehsil and union council tiers |
Communication and dissemination strategy | Disseminating information on drinking water quality standards through articles in the national press, leaflets, newsletters and spreading information to schools, through NGOs, civil societies, and citizen community boards (CCBs). |
Financial strategy | Provision of water supply and sanitation services at affordable rates is Promised in the financial strategy. funds are given to CCBs at local level for drinking water schemes |
Monitoring and evaluation strategy (M&E), | Ministry of environment will be responsible for reporting of State of Drinking Water in Pakistan, whereas, the local government department and WASAs will be responsible for monitoring the coverage of drinking water supply in rural and urban areas respectively. |
Research strategy | Pilot tests for new approaches and innovative ideas in the drinking water sector, especially those which help to improve access, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability. |
Government has introduced different programs to control water pollution, but unfortunately no one is implemented appropriately due to weak law enforcement and the problems remained the same. Policy is not the only challenge, Citizen Education is also necessary to overcome the public’s apathy toward water pollution. But citizen education requires support from the government in terms of legislation, conservation strategies, and law enforcement, which is currently nonexistent. There is a deep mistrust among stakeholders and decision makers, partly explaining the stalemate in passing meaningful water policies and strategies. The lack of consensus on water sector priorities not only creates a vacuum for improved resource management but also leaves the security around water that much more volatile. Thus it is crucial to correct these misperceptions if there is to be any significant shift in water policy and management. Water stakeholders and policymakers would be better served using their collective skills, knowledge, and expertise to develop an effective strategy that tackles Pakistan’s precarious water environment and off sets any violence over water resources.
Growing population, poor management services, water pollution, lack of public awareness and weak enforcement of environmental laws and policies causes great environmental degradation and health problems.
The issues of water quality and quantity are still major problems in Pakistan. Water pollution and its effects over environmental sustainability in Pakistan provoke political instability when other problems and grievances already exist. As shortages become more widespread, it is crucial that the government invest greater political capital to regulate water pollution and provide quality water services to all communities. A number of factors need to be highlighted and addressed in order to improve, protect and maintain the quality of freshwater resources of the country. The Government does not give the priority to the treatment of sewage and industrial effluents. The level of commitment from government authorities to treat waste water and to improve the quality of freshwater is very low. Therefore, there is a need to bring provision of clean water back as a top priority.
There is need to establish legal rules and regulations at the earliest to cover the risks of ground water extraction. Even when there are relevant laws in the country like PEPA 1997, their enforcement is extremely weak and therefore the level of compliance is low particularly in the industrial and housing sector. And policies like NEP 2005, NWP 2006 and NDWP 2009, etc. are in place, there is no clear strategy devised so far to implement them. A clear and practical strategy needs to be defined to implement these policies.
Effective management can only come from domestic reform, and dependence on foreign aid will not render lasting solutions. This study is by no means a complete analysis of the pollution challenges facing Pakistan’s water sector. Its goal is to demonstrate how policymakers and water lawyers seem to underestimate the extent of the potential threats to water and its economic future. More data and analysis are needed to understand the extent of each of these challenges and subsequent security threats to pinpoint potential hot spots. In particular, effective laws and policies require greater supply and demand linkages, as opposed to the field’s supply-oriented literature. The future of Pakistan’s water sector does not have to be ominous. There are great opportunities to address these challenges and avert violent conflict. Ultimately, change starts with political will.
Authors are grateful for the support by China Scholarship Council (CSC) and School of Law, Chongqing University for carry of present research study.
AzraJabeen,XishengHuang,MuhammadAamir, (2015) The Challenges of Water Pollution, Threat to Public Health, Flaws of Water Laws and Policies in Pakistan. Journal of Water Resource and Protection,07,1516-1526. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2015.717125