Industrial pollution haunts Hattar

Residents allege widespread health hazards, toxic lead exposure among children

Hattar Industrial Estate, located in Haripur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is one of the province's highest revenue-generating industrial zones.

However, it has become a serious source of concern for local residents due to severe air and water pollution.

Social activist Malik Ziafat Zaman said the industrial estate, established on Hattar's fertile agricultural land, has turned into a constant threat to the health and well-being of the local population.

He said the community was living in distress, with deaths affecting almost every household. Residents hold the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responsible for failing to protect the environment, wildlife and public health despite being mandated to do so.

According to Zaman, pollution caused by cement factories, lead-smelting units and the poultry industry has severely affected the local population, yet no effective accountability mechanism has been put in place.

He said that if any organisation had recognised the gravity of the situation, it was UNICEF, which conducted medical tests on local children and found that more than 88 per cent had hazardous levels of lead in their blood.

Zaman said the findings warranted the declaration of a health emergency in Hattar. However, he alleged that neither the health department nor public health authorities took meaningful action.

He claimed that residents had been suffering for months, while government institutions remained largely absent. He acknowledged the support of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Minister Arshad Ayub Khan, Yousuf Ayub Khan and the Assistant Commissioner of Khanpur for responding to public concerns.

He demanded that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister and the director general of the Environmental Protection Agency personally visit Hattar, assess the situation and take measures to ensure justice for affected residents and safeguard future generations.

Meanwhile, Farrukh Shahzad said a recent inspection of Hattar Industrial Estate by Deputy Director of Environment Muhammad Shahbaz Khan was a significant development in addressing environmental concerns in the area.

He said the visit was not merely a routine official exercise but reflected growing recognition of the environmental issues highlighted by the Environmental Protection Forum through sustained advocacy and public engagement.

According to Shahzad, the forum played a key role in bringing environmental concerns to the attention of government authorities by documenting evidence, representing affected communities and highlighting conditions on the ground.

He said the inspection resulted in demands for accountability from industrial units, directives for compliance with environmental regulations, requirements for the submission of relevant documentation and a one-week deadline for corrective measures.

Shahzad noted that the department's focus on coal usage, toxic emissions, dust and contaminated water demonstrated the effectiveness of the forum's efforts in raising public awareness and mobilising affected communities.