Urban Environmental Challenges and Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan

Transcription

1 Urban Environmental Challenges and Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan INTL 542, Dr. Weiss Kirsten Ray 1

2 In this report I will discuss some of the most pressing urban environmental challenges that Pakistan is currently facing. These include; à water quality à sanitation à agriculture à urban air pollution à solid waste management and, à climate change and natural disasters I will continue to address the following issues regarding poverty alleviation; à political economy à existing plans involving poverty alleviation Lastly, I will provide some suggestions that are aligned with SAARC s ideals. 2

3 Urbanization in Pakistan Pakistan is the sixth most populated country in the world with a population of over 200 million people (CIA World Factbook). The urbanization of Pakistan is increasing at a rate that is quicker than any other South Asian country. The urbanization rate is 3 percent, resulting in a population growth of millions of Pakistanis every year. Urbanization in Pakistan dates back to Partition when millions of Indian Muslims crossed into Pakistan and settled into urban areas. Migration into Pakistan continued several years later as more Indians settled into Pakistani urban areas during the wars of 1965 and 1971 (Kugelman). In the 1990s, migration into Pakistan occurred again as up to 4 million Afghans crossed the Durand Line. Kugelman identifies two main causes of present-day urbanization: 1. Rural-urban migrations 2. Natural increase of Pakistan s population People are moving from rural to urban areas in order to escape conflict in rural areas. Pakistanis are also moving to cities because rural livelihoods have been negatively affected by environmental concerns such as water shortages. Figure 1 illustrates the current population dispersion in Pakistan, with the two most populated cities being Karachi (9.3 million) and Lahore (5.1 million). Environmental challenges and poverty alleviation efforts are most prevalent in these populated areas. 3

4 Figure 1: Population density. Source: OCHA Urban Environmental Challenges in Pakistan Urban Environmental Challenges: Clean Water Pakistan receives 250mm of rainfall a year, making it a water-stressed country. Water scarcity is expected to increase as Pakistan s population grows. In urban areas, the water that does exist is heavily polluted, which creates disease among the poor (World Bank). Typhoid, diarrhea, worms and hepatitis are the most common water-related diseases in poor urban areas. Urban Environmental Challenges: Sanitation 4

5 The rapid urbanization of cities has resulted in issues surrounding access to proper sanitation. 68 million people lack access to toilets in Pakistan. Public defecation in Pakistan is quite common, and is positioned third behind India and Indonesia. This leads to prevalent disease within the poor urban areas of Pakistan (WaterAid). There are efforts to address issues surrounding sanitation at the federal level, through the Ministry of Health, and at the provincial level, in the form of local government. However, a lack of funding and follow through has led to stagnant development of this issue. Poor sanitation facilities add to the high incidence of disease as well. Children are especially susceptible to water related diseases. Water-borne diseases have a significant impact on the economy. Urban Environmental Challenges: Agriculture Lack of water challenges agricultural growth. Pakistan, however, is reliant on the Indus River for its surface water, making Pakistan particularly vulnerable to water pollution. Forty percent of the Pakistani population is employed in the agricultural sector which leaves much of the population concerned with environmental issues such as water quality (USAID). Environmental degradation has led to a decrease in agricultural productivity and affects those who are poor. People have lost their jobs as a consequence of polluted water and deforestation. Environmental challenges within the agricultural sphere act as a catalyst for poverty. Urban Environmental Challenges: Urban Air Pollution 5

6 Pakistan is a heavily urbanized country. Urban air pollution is a direct result of the growing urbanization of Pakistan. The primary sources of air pollution are poorly maintained vehicles, factories and power plants. The concentration of particulate matter in the cities of Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi are above World Health Organization s guidelines (World Bank). The poor air quality yields numerous health effects throughout Pakistan, as defined in Table 1. In addition to particulate matter emitted by vehicles and factories, there is a high amount of airborne lead. Lead can become airborne from a variety of sources, including lead pipes and lead paint, and causes disabilities to those exposed. In 2005, more than 22,600 adults died from urban air pollution (Ahmed). Rapid urbanization leads to an increase in vehicle use and vehicle emissions are the main cause of air pollution (figure 2). In general, there is a lack of enthusiasm from the Pakistani government to address issues surrounding air pollution. Figure 2: Motorists in Pakistan. Source: World Bank 6

7 Poor air quality is not limited to vehicle emission. 32 percent of urban Pakistani households make fires from biomass fuels inside their homes (World Bank). This leads to bronchitis, asthma, and respiratory infection in women, children and the elderly. There are several efforts to combat environmental issues in Pakistan, as outlined in the 18 th Ammendment to the Constitution of Pakistan. Specifically, the National Environment Policy and the National Climate Change Policy are expected to be influential (Sheikh). Urban Environmental Challenges: Waste Management Proper waste management is a significant concern in Pakistan s urban areas. According to Pakistan s Environment Protection Department, there are several main problems regarding waste management: - There is no proper waste collection system - Waste is dumped on the streets - Different types of waste are not collected separately - There are no controlled sanitary landfill sites - Citizens are not aware of the relationship between ways of disposing of waste and the resulting environmental and public health problems The health hazards associated with this are extensive; infection and disease are prevalent among the urban poor. Improper waste management also leads to groundwater contamination, which in effect leads to water issues discussed earlier. There is not currently any legislature addressing this issue (Environment Protection Department). 7

8 Climate Change and Natural Disasters Climate change has particularly devastating potential in Pakistan, as Pakistan is largely reliant on the monsoon and glacial melt for productivity. As a result of climate change, floods have become more common, disrupting agriculture and creating food security issues throughout Pakistan. Pakistan deals with natural disasters in a reactionary manner and most of the focus on relief is on flooding. Since 1955 there have been a series of 5-year disaster management plans in Pakistan that primarily focus on flood management (Cheema). The current disaster management plan is called Vision Vision 2030 will poverty alleviation through control over natural calamities such as floods, droughts or manmade events such as wars, and through introduction of agriculture insurance against drought (Planning Commission of Pakistan) Figure 3: Source: Cheema 8

9 Poverty Alleviation in Pakistan Poverty Alleviation: Political Economy Since independence, the Pakistani government has not provided proper support to those in need. This failure to assist the poor has led to an increase in impoverishment in Pakistan. (Weiss). While most government has been generally lackluster in supporting the poor, Bhutto proves to be an exception. Lieven writes, in Pakistan: A Hard Country, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is the only Pakistani leader to has ever spoken to the poor as if they mattered (Lieven 238). It is arguable that the current government does not in fact acknowledge the needs of the poor, as those who live in impoverished urban areas still suffer from lack of access to clean water, sanitation, and housing, to name a few. Plans to Alleviate Poverty The Pakistan People s Party attempted to alleviate poverty by establishing the Benazir Bhutto Income Support Fund (BISF). This fund allocated 34 billion rupees to support the monthly incomes of impoverished families (Weiss). The matriarch of the family received the money, thereby supporting women s empowerment. This program has received some critique. Some considered the BISF not a poverty alleviation effort, but a subsidy program. The fund does not directly support education or development. Accusations surrounding missing funds exist. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) released a report in 2010 outlining efforts to reduce poverty in Pakistan. Two main components of this report include a reformed general sales tax, and an electricity reform. The electricity reform aims to address loan shedding and provide electricity to the poor. 9

10 Recommendations Although SAARC has considered environmental issues in Pakistan, there has been a lack of follow-through from the Pakistani government. Urban environmental issues and poverty are closely related and Pakistan would benefit from reconsidering policies regarding environmental challenges and poverty alleviation. à Invest in technologies to build infrastructure such as public transportation, clean energy, and water and sanitation. Urban air improvement should be a priority because current trends suggest that the air quality will worsen dramatically with time. This might look like an investment in public transportation infrastructure and a promotion of non-motorized transport. à Strengthen SAARC s institutional framework surrounding natural disaster plans, and utilize a less reactionary approach than what has been used in the past. Specifically, a flood preparedness program would be greatly beneficial as floods are common and devastating. 10

11 Works Cited Ahmed, Amin. "Pakistan s Urban Air Pollution off the Charts: World Bank." DAWN.COM. Dawn, 14 July Web. 16 Nov Cheema, Abdur. "Exploring the Role of the Mosque in Dealing with Disasters: A Case Study of the 2005 Earthquake in Pakistan." Diss. Massey U, Web. --"Environmental Issues and Impacts." Environmental Issues(n.d.): World Bank. World Bank, 14 Nov Haider, Murtaza. "Pakistan s Power Crisis: Trans-Mission Impossible." DAWN.COM. N.p., 24 July Web. 16 Nov Kugelman, Michael. Urbanisation in Pakistan: Causes and Consequences (n.d.): n. pag. Urbanisation in Pakistan: Causes and Consequences. Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Center, Jan Web. 13 Nov "Pakistan: Population Density (as of 26 August 2013)." ReliefWeb. OCHA, 36 Aug Web. 16 Nov Planning Commission of Pakistan. Pakistan in the 21 st century: Vision 2030 (2007). Islamabad: Planning Commission of Pakistan, Government of Pakistan Qasim, Mohammed. "Pakistan Fails to Control Rapid Growth of Population." Islamabad. International, 11 July Web. 16 Nov Sánchez-Triana, Ernesto. "World Bank." SpringerReference (n.d.): n. pag. Cleaning Pakistan's Air. World Bank, Web. Nov Sheikh, Ali Tauqeer. "Climate Change: Pakistan's Existential Challenge." Democracy, Sustainable Development and Peace. Oxford: Oxford UP, Print. --"Waste Management Series." Solid Waste: Assessment, Monitoring and Remediation Waste Management Series (2004): 1-5. Pakistan Environment. 13 Nov Weiss, Anita. Surviving Pakistan s Cities: A Complex Web of Challenges and Alternatives. (2013):