
KARACHI:
Electronic waste (e-waste) refers to hazardous substances i.e., lead, mercury, etc. Discarding electronic equipment without proper disposal methods generates e-waste, which poses a serious risk to human health and the environment. In 2021, a UN report revealed that in Pakistan, 433 kilotons of e-scrap were generated. Another report by the Asian Development Bank revealed that Pakistan produces 1.68 kilograms of e-waste every year.
The absence of proper recycling facilities for e-waste has led to the emergence of serious health diseases among people living near waste disposal sites. Children are particularly faced with higher risks. Some of the diseases include kidney, skin, and liver cancer, central and peripheral nervous system dysfunction, etc. In addition, the improper incineration of e-scrap has added to environmental pollution. Fertile land is being harmed and cannot be used for agricultural activities. It is also worsening air quality and increasing the likelihood of airborne diseases. Natural water bodies have been polluted by the e-scrap making the water dangerous for human consumption. Unfortunately, the relevant authorities have paid little attention to the issue.
Although the Pakistan Environmental Policy Act 1997 prohibits the production and import of hazardous substances, it does not specifically mention any criterion for e-waste disposal. Given that Islamabad is a signatory to the Basel Convention, Pakistan must craft a national e-waste management policy along the lines of China’s electronic waste regulation. The policy should aim at drawing a proper framework for dumping and recycling e-scrap in the country.
Muhammad Aftab Ahmad
Faisalabad
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2022.
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