KARACHI:
Pakistan is suffering from environmental degradation due to multiple reasons such as deforestation, trash dumping, burning of refuse, etc. The pollution — of air and water — thus caused are giving rise to health issues as well. To build a healthier and sustainable Pakistan, we should work in unity to address the environmental issues. There is need for the government to make people aware of 3Rs — to reduce, recycle, and reuse. Media should also play its role in teaching people about the adverse effects of their day to day activities with scant regard to environmental consequences.
Deforestation is the foremost cause of air pollution. As per international standards, a country should have 25% of its land covered with forest for a sustainable environment. However, Pakistan has just 4.8% of its land covered with forest which is extremely alarming for the environment. Also, illegal cutting of wood for building houses or for burning purposes is an unwanted practice.
Dumping of trash, it’s illegal burning and untreated industrial waste are among major causes of air and water pollution. The heaps of waste, together with its burning, are the causative factors of several bacterial and infectious diseases like typhoid, malaria, cholera and diarrhoea.
The government and the people together should join hands for sustainable solutions to save the environment
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2022.
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