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PROBLEMS OF PAKISTAN

Introduction

Pakistan suffers from a number of social, political, and economic problems. With a
population roughly half that of the United States in an area slightly less than the size of two
California's, Pakistan is experiencing unwanted growth. While projections indicate that the
population growth rate of Pakistan may actually be decreasing, those same projections also
predict that by the year 2050 Pakistan will have assumed its place as the third most
populated nation in the world. A rapidly growing population, along with political tensions,
both internal and external, and an economy trapped in a cycle of debt, all serve to prevent
Pakistan from attaining the progress it needs to advance, and perhaps to survive.

INTERNAL PROBLEMS

War against terror

The tragedy now unfolding in Pakistan is occurring due the pursuit of shortsighted policies
by the United States as well as the Pakistan government and military. The US has
pressured Pakistan into engaging in brutal military operations in Bajaur and Swat, with no
regard for how this would affect its own vital interests in the region. The Pakistani rulers
(bedazzled by the glitter of all those promised billions) have meekly complied in waging
war on parts of their own people, again with no thought to the likely outcome for them and
their country. The main impact of this has been to the civilian population, some million and
a half of whom have been displaced (with many killed and maimed, although no figures for
these are yet available).

Incidentally, what Pakistan is doing is little different from what Sudan did in Darfur and
what the Sri Lankan government is now doing – fighting an insurgency with minimal or no
regard for civilians in the area. This got Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir indicted as a
war criminal, while the Sri Lankan government is the object of widespread condemnation in
the West. Even Israel got a few taps on its knuckles for its indiscriminate brutality in Gaza.
Pakistan, however, is being widely lauded for its resolute “war on terror”. Apparently,
causing avoidable human suffering while waging this particular war is more palatable than
in other cases.

Taliban are the real threat that the United States faces in this theatre, and recommended
what might be a rational policy for it to pursue. This was to first shore up Pakistan instead
of waging a war in Afghanistan (with Pakistan forced to act in a supporting role). A failure
to do this risked losing Pakistan to the Islamists, which would render pointless whatever
the US could achieve in Afghanistan. The likelihood of such a policy being adopted is nil,
unfortunately, since the present administration has continued the Bush practice of letting
generals set national policy in this theatre. The generals are fixated on their war in
Afghanistan, and Pakistan figures only as an often-reluctant subordinate player in their
operations.

What remains to be described is how this tragedy will likely unfold as Pakistan slides ever
closer to an Islamist takeover. The current military operation in Swat (like the earlier one in
Bajaur) consists mainly of subjecting successive areas to heavy bombardment from the air
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and the ground, behind which ground troops advance, shooting at anyone they encounter
(including unfortunate civilians trying to flee). The area thus occupied is then subjected to
an indefinite curfew, and again anyone seen outside is shot (often civilians trying to flee or
seek food and water). The hardened Taliban militants, who had moved into Swat from the
adjoining tribal area (FATA), have mostly slipped back to their own areas, leaving behind
local diehards to attain the honour of martyrdom (those not so inclined merely bury their
weapons and mingle with the escaping refugees).

Meanwhile, the US war in Afghanistan will continue, and the need to stop the Taliban from
using the FATA as a base and launching pad for attacks will intensify. Washington will twist
some arms and thump some tables, and the hapless Pakistan military will have to go in
and clean up FATA as it did Bajaur and Swat. Another miserable wave of destitute Pashtun
refugees will flood back into the adjoining settled areas, to meet the same indifferent care
that the refugees from Bajaur and Swat received. The Taliban will not only fade away into
the hills and caves of FATA and Afghanistan, but also infiltrate into the interior of Pakistan.
FATA will become a depopulated free-fire zone, but scattered garrisons and air attacks will
not be able to stop guerrillas from using it as a base to attack both Afghanistan and
Pakistan (nor will magical drones manipulated from balmy Florida).

Taliban infiltration and Pashtun alienation (due to these operations by a largely Punjabi
military) will likely lead to the collapse of government in the NW Frontier province, allowing
an insurgency to grow in this area (low-level, but considerably worse than the one now
occurring in Baluchistan). The ethnic conflict now simmering in Karachi will escalate. The
Taliban militants who have infiltrated into the cities and towns will stage bombings and
attacks in them. All this will intensify the many internal strains and problems already
plaguing Pakistan (which I spelt out in my earlier article). Throwing US money at this mess
will not make much difference, except to hugely inflate some bank accounts in obscure tax
havens. Pakistan is not a very strong and stable structure as it is; under all these additional
pressures and complications, something has to give.

Casual or uninformed outside observers are quick to predict the break-up of Pakistan
under pressure. That is unlikely, though it remains a possibility at the end of a long chain of
adverse events. What is most likely is a change in the present governance structure.
Pakistan is currently ruled by one man, Asif Zardari (the facade of democracy
notwithstanding). Mr. Zardari, and his policy of unlimited support for US policies in the
region, is extremely unpopular (in an opinion poll conducted by the International
Republican Institute in March 2009 he was the most disliked politician in Pakistan (72%)
with only 17% liking him). When conditions in the country worsen due to the “war on terror”,
he and his subservience to the US will be blamed, and he is unlikely to be able to remain in
power for long. (The delegation from Dubai is ever ready to depart, uttering in farewell
those immortal words that Douglas Adams put into the mouths of his departing celestial
dolphins: So long, and thanks for all the fish).

Mr. Zardari’s most likely replacement will either be his political rival, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, or
an Islamist military junta. Mr. Sharif is currently displaying a somewhat tentative friendship
for the US. But, if he comes into power on a wave of anti-US sentiment (whether through
an early election, a popular movement, or military intervention), his policies will be radically
different from those of the present government. This will probably cause US (and
international) aid to dry up, and as this exacerbates the country’s problems, he will have to
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lean increasingly on Islamists (political Islamists, not the Taliban), and they will gradually
take over the government.

Another possible scenario is an Islamist military coup. Though possible at any time (it is
unclear how deeply they have penetrated the military, but nationalist fervour easily shades
into the Islamist variety), it becomes much more likely if governance in the country
seriously breaks down, or the military buckles under the combined pressures of trying to
support the US war in Afghanistan, combating insurgencies and militant attacks at home,
while all the time looking apprehensively over its shoulder at the “threat” posed by an India
it does not trust. A takeover of the military and the government by a group of Islamist
officers could well occur in such circumstances.

Whatever the actual chain of events that transpires, the great (and avoidable) tragedy is
that the policies the US is pursuing in the region greatly increase the likelihood of the loss
of Pakistan to the Islamists. The frightening consequences of this, for both Pakistan and
the US, are easy to imagine. Any successes the generals can achieve in their war in
Afghanistan would be meaningless; military campaigns divorced from the real needs of
national policy usually end up as expensive failures. The pages of history are littered with
them.

Monstrous Debt

Pakistan's chief problem is a monstrous debt. Without monetary resources with which to
fight the numerous problems of the nation, Pakistan remains overpopulated and poor. The
debt accrued by Pakistan has come from several sources. Primarily this debt has
accumulated due to the continuing conflict with India over the Kashmir region. Kashmir is a
predominantly Muslim state within India. As such, the possession of this region has been a
source of contention between mostly Hindu India and mostly Muslim Pakistan. This border
conflict has been raging on and off for the last half of the twentieth century. Due to these
hostilities, the Pakistani government spends roughly one fifth of its budget on its military,
further limiting potential spending on social improvements and programs.

Another factor in the large debt, is Pakistan's dependence on foreign oil and other imported
fossil fuels. As a nation, Pakistan uses 350,000 barrels of oil per day. Of this, 293,000
barrels per day are imported. Also, 1.1 million short tons of coal are imported each year.
The combination of these two alone make up a huge part of the over one billion dollar trade
deficit. These resources are used primarily for the generation of power.

Due to all of these sources of debt, half of government expenditures are dedicated to
fulfilling debt repayment obligations. In order to finance these payments, additional grants
and loans are required each year totaling approximately 25% of revenues. This prevents
Pakistan from devoting significant resources to economic development and/or social
improvements

Education

Perhaps the greatest loss comes in the area of education. Whether or not this is a direct
result of Pakistan's economic problems, it is undoubtedly connected. With so many
resources directed towards the aforementioned debt payment, educational improvements
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are given and inordinately low priority. In addition, Musharraf's military dictatorship has
understandably not placed great emphasis on education in Pakistan. This is evident upon
examination of Pakistan's overall literacy rate of 37.8% (50% for men and 24.4% for
women). Literacy being defined as those over 15 who can read and write.

In terms of population, low literacy rates are often observed with high population growth. A
poorly educated population is unlikely to participate in family planning or any other form of
population control. Secondarily, a poorly educated populace makes Pakistan a poor choice
for the foreign investors that it so desperately needs. Furthermore, the extremely low
literacy rate among Pakistani women (24.4%) lends itself to a society where most women
never enter the labor force, creating less incentives for them to limit the size of their families.
This is best illustrated by the fact that only 38 million of Pakistan's 141 million people make
up the entire labor force.

Poverty

Deeply linked to the massive debt and poorly educated people, is the large portion of
Pakistan's population that lives in poverty. With an average of 2,000 dollars of GDP per
person (adjusted for purchasing power parity), the average citizen is forced to live off very
limited resources. This is reflected in the fact that 34% of the population lives below the
poverty line, despite a mere 7% unemployment. Pakistan's lack of fiscal resources is yet
another barrier against foreign investment. Without foreign investment, Pakistan lacks the
resources to bring about positive economic development. Without positive economic
development, Pakistan is unable to attract foreign investors. Without foreign investors... you
get the point.

Government

Formerly a federal republic, Pakistan's now military controlled dictatorship is a large part of
the problem. With Pakistan's constitution suspended, and its parliament disbanded, any
potential aid given is not guaranteed to reach its intended recipient. General Musharraf's
regime has yet to win the support of the international lending community, as the World Bank
has refrained from issuing an endorsement of Pakistan. Until democracy is restored in
Pakistan it will be very difficult to affect any kind of positive change in other areas that so
desperately need it.

Excessive Population

Simply put, the world can only support so many people with the resources that we
have available to us. These scarce resources include fresh water, fossil fuels, and
food that the earth provides. No one knows exactly what the carrying capacity of the
earth is, however we do know that there is a finite number of people who can live on
this planet. It is not desirable to reach this point, where our resources limit us to a
point where growth is impossible. To avoid this situation we need to begin working
towards lower population growth rates in every country around the world. It is
especially important, though, to limit those growth rates in countries where they are
highest and have the greatest potential to reach these undesirable limits.
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This graph displays both the actual and projected growth rates for Pakistan over the next 50
years. It is easy to see that the growth rate is expected to decline, however, since the
population will be nearly triple what it is now, even a small growth rate produces a large
increase in population.

Energy Problems in Pakistan

Nuclear reactor builders are jostling for business as energy utilities take another look at
nuclear power.Some two dozen power plants are scheduled to be built or refurbished during
the next five years in Canada, China, several European Union countries, India, Iran,
Pakistan, Russia, and South Africa. In the US and the UK, governmental preparations are
under way that may lead to 15 new reactor orders by 2007.
The new interest in civilian nuclear energy results from some heavy lobbying by groups
involved in building reactors, says Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and
from attempts to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions. EU Energy Commissioner Andris
Piebalgs adds that there are also increasing concerns about energy security, particularly in
light of the recent disruption of Russian gas supplies in Europe.
Most of the new reactor designs are third-generation pressurized-water reactors (PWR),
although companies in China, France, and South Africa are looking to build a fourth-
generation design called a gas-pebble-bed reactor (PBMR). The new reactors are supposed
to be inexpensive to build, more powerful, and safer; and they can be operated for up to 60
years, according to nuclear - power trade groups. Most of the new reactor designs are third-
generation pressurized-water reactors (PWR), although companies in China, France, and
South Africa are looking to build a fourth-generation design called a gas-pebble-bed reactor
(PBMR). The new reactors are supposed to be inexpensive to build, more powerful, and
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safer; and they can be operated for up to 60 years, according to nuclear - power trade
groups. Nuclear-industry officials have long said that the majority of growth would come in
Asia. Japan is building five new power plants by 2010, and China plans to build 30 nuclear
reactors, based on domestic designs, by 2020. China also sees nuclear technology as a
major export opportunity, say industry analysts, and is building its second of four power
plants for Pakistan, which may lead to a larger order. India has nine power plants under
construction, including a fast-breeder reactor that generates its own fuel.

Socio Economic Problems

The most beautiful moment in the life of humans is when someone of their own blood calls
them ‘mama’ or ‘papa’. Parents want to provide the newborn with the best of everything. He
is pampered, protected and taken care of. The blissful period of childhood soon gets over,
and the little human infant grows up to be an adult ready to face the challenges of the world
he was born in. He sees around him with a hope of finding the same perfection in everything
which his parents had provided him with. In no time, he realizes that the Utopian concept of
a perfect world should be confined to the fictional Island created by Thomas More in his
widely renowned novel only. That Utopia was far from reality and had nothing to do with the
world around us. It’s a world abound with countless problems- social, economic, legal,
political, spiritual and the list goes on.

Certain social and economic conditions become a menace for the society when they start
asserting negative influence on the society. Usually those social needs which persist in a
society for long period of time without being fulfilled owing to restrained budgetary
scenarios, they turn into socio-economic problems. The major problems of a society are
linked with the providence of basic necessities of life to the people making up the society. If
the basic needs of man- shelter, food and clothing are not fulfilled, the deprivation of these
needs gradually transform into different forms of social menaces. In the context of Pakistan,
owing to the fact that it is a developing nation, there is no wonder that it is engulfed with a
number of social and economical problems. The real issue is not the presence of these
problems in society because, as stated earlier, there is no concept of an ideal society in the
world. Every country in the world has its own set of socio-economic problems. The main
issue is the extent and intensity of the socio-economic problems of Pakistan which have
soared to alarming levels. I will discuss some major social and economic problems that are
of serious concern for social scientists and political economists.

Social Problems
Pakistan has been facing a lot of social problems since its inception in 1947. In the start
there were the problems of lack of funds, rehabilitation of refugees, poor infrastructure and
widespread poverty of masses. Quaid-e-Azam tried his best to solve these problems and
get the state machinery working but due to his sudden death, he could not eradicate these
problems completely. Subsequent governments didn’t pay considerable attention towards
solution of various social problems and thus they grew with the passage of time and
became social evils.

At present the gravest problem that Pakistan is facing is its precarious law and order
condition. Terrorism has become a headache for federation and a nightmare for public.
Government has been helpless in eradicating terrorism despite beefing up security in
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metropolitan cities. Public seeks answer to the question that what is their fault for which they
are being punished by the terrorists? People have become numerical figures, blown up in
numbers every now and then. Terrorists have not spared any place. Bazars, mosques,
educational institutes, offices, hotels- you name it and the place is not safe any more.

Besides terrorism there are other social problems which are older and more widespread.
The biggest of these problems is poverty. 70% population of Pakistan lives in villages. Most
of them don’t have access to adequate basic needs of life. They are struggling for bread
and butter. A large chunk of population lives below poverty line. They live in miserable
conditions. Lack of proper food, clothing and shelter, poor sanitation, unsafe and sometimes
contaminated drinking water are just some of their many problems. Poverty itself gives rise
to various other social problems. It deprives children of poor people to access education
and healthcare. A sense of deprivation manifests itself in form of various crimes. That is why
every now and then we read crime stories in newspapers that are characterized by lower
orders of society who adopt illegal channels to get the financial prosperity which they can
not achieve otherwise.

Illiteracy

The literacy rate lingers on 56% and ironically it also includes those people who can read
and write their name in Urdu. Over the decades, despite decreasing, illiteracy rate in
Pakistan has shown an upward trend. Not only that but enrollment ratio of students at
primary level has shown a decreasing trend. The fact that 50 percent of children do not
complete their primary education testifies this fact. Uneducated adults contribute negligibly
to the national exchequer. Despite spending millions on it, government has failed to achieve
literacy rates comparable to other countries in South Asia. Private sector is doing
commendable job for the promotion of educational culture in Pakistan, but its main objective
is money-making. Schools and colleges are opened as a business prospect and thus many
of them lack quality.

Corruption

is another huge social problem. According to latest report of Transparency International,

Pakistan has been ranked at 42nd number among the most corrupt nations of the world.
From clerical staff to higher offices and bureaucrats, all are involved in corruption of one
kind or the other. Corruption in government departments is so much deep-rooted that a
common concept prevails that the system doesn’t let honest people to work peacefully.
There is a lack of accountability due to which wealthy people and those in power are sure
that they can’t be held responsible for their deeds. So they keep on looting the national
treasures and find ways to legalize their black-money. Many corrupt people don’t even
bother to do that.

Unemployment

is also regarded as a major social problem. Major portion of Pakistan’s population consists
of youth and a large number of young people who have the ability and are willing to work
are unemployed. Currently rate of unemployment as per official resources is 7.4% but
according to some private estimates the arte of unemployment is 12%. There are many
reasons of unemployment like influx of machinery that has replaced manpower, lack of new
industries and defective education system. But the impacts of unemployment are more
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serious and dangerous. People who don’t find work here migrate to other countries with
better prospects. Also, people tired of making both ends meet due to unemployment indulge
in nefarious activities and ratio of crimes increases.

Child labour

is widespread in Pakistan. Whether in bigger cities or in small villages, we find innocent

malnourished children employed in various forms of labour. They are working as welders,
mechanics, plumbers, electricians and in industries like carpet-weaving, glass and football
making. Meager wages are paid to these children and no facilities for education are
provided. Media and NGOs have always condemned child labour. In past, some countries
refused to import those goods from Pakistan in whose making children were employed. But
despite all these factors, due to growing inflation and poverty, parents are bound to send
their children to work to light their stoves.

Population expansion

has been a real issue of concern for all governments. With limited resources it is very
difficult to cater to the needs of growing population. There is a great economic disparity
among the people. Poor are committing suicides out of hunger while rich are busy amassing
more and more wealth. These social problems directly affect the masses. Apart from these
there are several economic problems which have broken the backbone of national treasury.

Economic Problems
Economic prosperity serves as a backbone for the overall progress of a nation. One thing is
common in all developed nations- they are economically sound. When citizens of a country
are freed from the worries of earning a livelihood to sustain their lives, they divert their
attention to more useful things. They focus on education, improvise healthcare, develop
technologies that make life easy and much more. Poor economic condition is the root cause
of so many problems that exist in a society. Unfortunately, Pakistan’s economic conditions
are pathetic. As if power crises, lack of foreign investment for the development of industrial
zones, backward and out-dated technology were not enough, Pakistan’s indulgence in war
on terrorism served as a fatal blow to the already crumbling economic state.

Result is that all our important industries that once served as an important contributor to the
national GDP have been closed down. Sugar, cement and shoe industry is on its downfall
while textile industry is breathing its last. Foreign investors are not ready to setup their
businesses in Pakistan. They have their own set of problems which include painful and
lengthy procedure of getting licenses and work permits in Pakistan, power crises, terrorism
and declining exports. Multinational Companies are reluctant to open their offices and
franchises in Pakistan. More than 70 MNCs have already packed up their business from
Pakistan.

Stock Exchanges also depict a true picture of economic meltdown. Instable political system,
dictatorship in its worse form and non-effective democracy badly affect the rates of stocks
listed on the three stock exchanges of Pakistan. During this year, many times Karachi Stock
Exchange has plunged to its lowest point in the history of Pakistan. Local as well as foreign
investors are hesitant of investing large sums of money in stock exchange in fear of
incurring unexpected loss. Stock exchanges showed very poor performance throughout
2008. Situation was so precarious that government had to freeze the market during last
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quarter of 2008. Also, recovery state of stocks is alarming. Earlier when stock market used
to plunge, it would recover in few days or weeks. Now share prices take a nose-dive and
take considerable time to generate profits.

Rate of inflation was never a two-digit figure in Pakistan, but in recent years it has seen an
unprecedented increase. Prices of all consumer products in general and food products in
particular are rocket high. Core inflation soared to 18.85% in first quarter of year 2009 until
SBP took steps to curb inflation through tight monetary policy. Cost of production increased
due to various factors. International increase in oil prices and Pakistan’s internal
unfavourable business conditions are two important factors responsible for high rates of
inflation. Consumer Price Index (CPI) as well as Wholesale Price Index (WPI) is at all-time
high. In contrast, purchasing power of masses is at an all-time low.

Northern areas of Pakistan have been a place of great tourist attraction. The beautiful hills,
the lush green valleys, shimmering lakes and flowing waterfalls brought many a tourist form
all over the world to Pakistan. This contributed to foreign exchange. Tourism Industry was
one of the booming industries of Pakistan. Besides attracting foreign exchange, it also
provided employment to local people. Also, tourist industry was a source of friendly relations
with other countries. Nevertheless, war on terrorism has served as a serious blow to the
tourism industry of Pakistan. Local as well as foreign media has projected Pakistan as a
dangerous and unsafe country. Its poor law and order situation has alarmed the tourist and
thus Northern areas no more receive many tourists.

Due to war on terror, local people of war-ridden areas are migrating to other areas of
Pakistan. Country has seen the largest migration since independence in 1947. These
people have left their homes, businesses, possessions and property back home. This large
influx of people and their rehabilitation is an economic burden for Pakistan. Unemployment
is already prevalent and now the question of providing employment to these migrants has
also become a serious concern. This portion of population is contributing nothing worthwhile
to the national income yet they have to be benefited from it. This unproductive lot of people
is a growing economic problem of Pakistan.

Environmental Issues

A number of serious environmental problems are present in Pakistan, which are of great
ecological concern in terms of its sustainable economic future. These include:

Soil erosion, pesticide misuse, deforestation, desertification, urban pollution, water logging
& salinity, freshwater pollution and marine water pollution_ just to name a few.

The major constraint to overcoming these problems, infact perhaps the main contributor to
their intensity is the explosive rate of population growth, which is very high in contrast to the
natural resources that are available to the people. Also included in the constraints is the
unsustainable use and management of these resources. Around 150 million people live in
this country, making it the seventh most populous country in the world. The rate of
population growth is one of the fastest and according to estimates it would double in just 25
years (UNDP 1997). What is obvious from this is, if the population continues to grow at this
rate, it would take a severe toll on the environment. The main reason is poor management
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and sustainability of natural resources owing to it being a developing country. Water,

already a scarce commodity in most parts of the country, is now facing further shortages.
This is also due in part to inadequate distribution and the coercion of the water-tanker mafia.
This shortage is hindering the country's potential to develop agriculture.

The combination of a large population and poor availability and provision of resources is
worrisome. It means that judicious means of energy use and minimum waste systems of
production as well as lifestyles must be employed for sustainable development. The picture
in Pakistan is however very different_ in fact, totally opposite to this. Energy use is
excessively inefficient; Pakistan's GDP per unit energy used is 4.0, which ranks it 69th out
of 110 countries. This waste of energy is combined with the need to import fossil fuels and
as a consequence there is a very low productive per capita use of energy.

The use of raw materials is also inefficient and many reusable resources are discarded as
waste. Only 3% of the industrial plants meet international waste treatment standards. There
are serious effluent problems and lack of sanitation affecting the natural resources and
posing unmitigated health risks.

Water
The main water sources in Pakistan are rivers, glaciers, rainfall and groundwater. The
rainfall pattern is extreme due to the varied topography of the country. Average rainfall is
between 50 to 1000 mm but in the isolated northern mountains it may exceed 2000 mm. On
the other hand the dry areas receive less than 125 mm on an average. Almost 75% of the
country receives less than 250 mm annually. The rainfall is dependent on the two monsoon
seasons, the most important being the Southwestern monsoon between June to
September. The high temperatures mean that there is high evaporation, which leads to loss
of water everywhere. Pakistan occupies the basin of three major rivers, which is of
considerable importance to the country. Indus (70% of total land area), Kharan closed basin
(15% of the total land area) and the Makran coastal basin (15% of the total land area) are
the three basins, with the Indus basin representing the largest potential. It mainly draws its
water from snow melting and precipitation. The surface waters of the rivers have not been
used effectively, as they are seasonal and irregular.

The Indus Water Treaty (1960) between India and Pakistan has restricted Pakistan's access
to the water in the Indus basin to merely the three rivers_ Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. The
combined annual average flow of these and River Kabul is 178 billion cusecs ( Asim R.
Khan, M. Kaleem Ullah, Saim Muhammad ). The country boasts the largest contiguous
irrigation system in the world, comprising the Indus, its tributaries, 19 barrages and
headworks, and 43 canals (Dr. Noor Ahmad Memon- The News- Rawalpindi Islamabad-
26/01/98).

Around 90% of the food and fibre production depend on irrigation. Irrigated land is 82.3% of
the total arable land and surface water is mainly relied upon for irrigation. The irrigation
water available per irrigated acre has risen to 35% from the 1960s. Out of the water tapped
from the Indus basin, only 30% actually reaches the roots of the crop. The majority is either
lost in canals or when it is being applied to the fields. 90% of the groundwater is already
being used through tube-wells. In any case, groundwater has a higher salt content. When it
is used in fields it leaves behind a high level of salts after evaporation, thus increasing soil
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salinity. According to certain researches, operational water losses are 50 - 60% with the
majority occurring in fields, canals and water channels.

Considering Pakistan's environmental scenario, it becomes increasingly obvious that water

issues are the most pressing. Human health, agriculture, rangelands, forests, water bodies,
and aquatic life, in fact the whole ecosystem is affected by problems associated with water.
Pollution of water bodies by effluents from industries and the sewerage system have
compounded the problem.

Freshwater Pollution - Chemical waste:

Almost all chemical waste is dumped untreated into the river system from where it is taken
out to sea. A large number of industries discharge deadly and toxic waste into storm-drains,
open nullahs or in the Lyari and Malir rivers. These include leather tanning units,
pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, refineries, chemical, textile, paper and pulp, engineering
works and thermal power plants. The Lyari River has become a putrid and toxic gutter due
to discharge of effluents. Solid waste also finds its way into the water system. The first
environmental assessment study in the country was conducted at the SITE industrial area to
record the effect of industrial wastewater on Karachi's vegetation The chemical analysis
revealed that there were traces of heavy metals such as chromium and nickel in the
vegetable samples. Invariably, this showed that the industries were not using any pollution
control measures whatsoever. Untreated industrial waste is not only affecting the
environment but ultimately is also having its toll on the country's health, by polluting the
water bodies. This renders them useless for human consumption and irrigation.
Consequently, it is responsible for the many water borne diseases that plague the country
and account for 60% of infant deaths.
The industrial waste is also used to irrigate some vegetable and fruit farms that have
cropped up in the Korangi Industrial Area. These fruit and vegetables show a presence of
metals and other toxins. A study conducted by IUCN suggests that spinach from Korangi
farms contains as much as 87.48 mg/l of chromium, a lot more than that harvested in other
areas.

Sewage:

The discharge of sewage and contaminated water in rivers and water bodies not only
affects marine production, but its use for agriculture results in the contamination of the food
chain. In Pakistan, sewage water is re-channelled to irrigate crops, which contaminates
them with pathogens. As a result 50% of the crops are contaminated. Groundwater may
also be contaminated by untreated sewage. Water borne diseases are the largest killers in
the country and health problems resulting from polluted water cost a large amount of
money.

Karachi produces discharge of wastewater of 300 million gallons per day and Lahore 240
million gallons per day. There are three sewerage plants in Karachi but they are able to treat
only 45 million gallons per day (15% of the total wastewater). Of particular interest are the
rivers Ravi and Kabul. They have sustained life for thousands of years and the historical city
of Lahore is built around the Ravi. Today, Lahore and Peshawar discharge their wastewater
into these rivers increasing their BOD level to 193-100mg/l for Ravi. The level allowed by
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the environmental experts is 80 mg/l! There is an annual loss of 5000 tonnes of fish catch
from this river. No life exists in it for 7 miles downstream.

Agricultural run-off / pesticides:

Indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilisers ensure that agricultural run-off from fields also
contributes to water pollution. Extensive use of agricultural chemicals has already started
affecting aquifers.

The climate of the country ranges from heat, humidity and rainfall, to arid spells.This on the
one hand provides favourable conditions for irrigated agriculture. However, irrigated
agriculture also means a thriving pest population. Estimates suggest that around one-third
of the yield is destroyed by pests or disease. To overcome this problem, pesticides have
developed into a major agricultural product (80% are used on cotton alone). Introduced in
1954 at the onset of the green revolution, pesticide consumption in Pakistan rose from 3677
metric tonnes in 1981 to 14745 metric tonnes in 1991. In rupee terms this equalled 4581
million rupees. By 1996 this had gone up to 43219 metric tonnes, i.e Rs. 9987 million. An
exhaustive study conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United
Nations found that pesticide use in Pakistan increased 1,169 percent between 1981 and
1999.

When DDT (Dichloro Diphenyl Trichloroethane) was first made in the 1880s it was
considered a 'magical' insecticide. Chemist Paul Miller introduced it for the first time in 1938,
an act that resulted in a Nobel Prize for him. At that time it helped to save millions of people
from typhus and malaria. Insecticides and pesticides thus became popular both as fight
against diseases as well as saving crops from pests. It took around forty years to strike, that
these substances also had side effects. It soon became apparent that new pests with
greater resistance were emerging in addition to soil, air and water being contaminated and
predators of the pests being eliminated. The environment and biodiversity of the planet was
being destroyed which ultimately might have more adverse consequences. The pesticides
upset the natural food chains causing greater problems unforeseen by technologists
promoting the 'miracle medicines.'

A World Health Organisation (WHO) study revealed that two million people suffered from
pesticide poisoning and 40,000 die per year. Most of these were from developing countries,
which have been urged to buy pesticides from corporations from the developed world. The
pesticides are carcinogenic and mutagenic causing sterility, low fertility, skin cancer,
immune and hormonal system disorder. In Pakistan, pesticide residues have been found in
water, soil and even food commodities. The situation is worse here because many of these
chemicals are either sold under generic names or are fake and adulterated.

Marine Pollution

The seas have been used as dumps for ages, mainly due to the misconception that
whatever is put into them gets diluted. However, the truth of the matter is that most of the
contaminated water entering the sea has a density different to that of the natural seawater.
This means that it does not mix and in fact settles down at the bottom of the ocean as
sludge, which may be 1.5 foot deep in certain areas.
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Much of the water from the rivers finds its way down to the sea, taking with it all the toxic
effluents. There have been major changes in the coastal environment in the last 200 years.
Some of them are due to natural causes such as the gradual change in the course of the
River Indus, which moved to the southeast of Karachi. The main causes of marine pollution
are diverting the water of the river for irrigation and extensive pollution. The coastal pollution
is mainly confined to the Karachi Harbour, which encloses an area of 62 km square. It
stretches from Sandspit in the west to Chinna Creek in the east. A variety of effluents from
domestic sources and waste from visiting ships (estimated 2,500 annually) all contribute to
the depressing state of the harbour especially around the Manora Channel. The Karachi
Nuclear Power Plant (KANUPP) uses 150,000 gallons of seawater for cooling. Liquid waste
and hot water from the plant is subsequently discharged into the sea.

Domestic sources of marine pollution:

• Metal scrap
• Rust from shipping yard
• Oil and liquid waste from fish processing plants
• Industrial effluents
• Solid waste
• Spillage of grains

Visiting ships:

• Waste oil
• Deck washing
• Garbage

Oil:

It is estimated that 90,000 tonnes of oil products from vessels and port terminals are
dumped into the harbour every year. In addition, there is also the threat of oil pollution from
other countries especially the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

Sewage:

An estimated 200 million gallons (Environmental Assessment and Protection of Karachi

Harbour, Neville Burt 1997) of raw sewage enters Karachi harbour mainly through Lyari
River and Chinna Creek. There is no freshwater input except from direct rainfall and the
local run-off from rainfall. The rate of pollution far outstrips the recycling processes in
nature.

Solid Waste:

Plastic bags are found all over the harbour and are not only an eyesore but also damaging
to marine life. A wide-diversity of garbage including wood and plastic are also apparent. The
garbage originates from the municipal waste and port activities. Water circulation and wind
driven currents concentrate this in certain parts of the harbour, making it unsightly and
 14

dangerous to ships as it can get stuck in propellers. There is also a significant amount of
solid waste, which sinks to the bed of the harbour

Toxic metals:

According to a PCSIR (1999) study, huge amounts of toxic metals have been found in
marine life such as fish, lobsters, crabs and shrimps. The metals include mercury, cadmium,
chromium, lead, arsenic and zinc. Many of these metals are carcinogens and can cause
genetic deformities and other fatal diseases. They are mainly released by the industrial
estates. Hardly 2% of these industries have the facilities to treat their effluents before
releasing them into the sea.

The result is that all of these pollutants are consumed by microorganisms (planktons) and
they enter the food chain, transferring these poisons to other organisms that rely on them
for sustenance, including, at the end of the food chain, human beings. An IUCN study of
fishmeal (made of locally caught fish) used as feed for poultry discovered that it had 33
parts per mililitre of chromium. High levels of chromium were found in chicken and eggs as
well.

Remedies
Successive governments have taken steps to solve various socio-economic problems. But
these problems are so deep-rooted that they have not been successful in putting an end to
these problems. The problem lies in the fact that government focuses on one factor and
ignores the others related to it. For example, much emphasis is laid on beefing up security
in big cities in wake of terrorism. But nothing serious has been done to seal the unlawful
entrance of arms from across the border. Acids and explosive materials used for destruction
by atomic bombs are easily available in market at cheap prices. Ministers and other
government officials enjoy the facilities of squads of armed body guards while public places
like markets, roads, shopping centers, bus stands etc are not adequately protected. To
control terrorism, government needs to stop fighting the proxy war on behalf of USA.

Secondly, there is a sheer need to curb corruption at all levels. The institutions of NAB and
FIA should be made more powerful to curb corruption. Culprits should not be allowed to
escape out of country. Rather strict punishments should be imposed on them. Not only they
should be strictly dealt with, but the wealth looted by them should be recovered and
employed for the welfare of people. Judiciary should be an independent institution. Currently
Pakistan has experienced a new era in the history of its judicial set-up. Judiciary is powerful
but we have yet to wait and see the results of independence of judiciary in Pakistan.

Thirdly, poverty reduction should be top priority of government. Cottage industry and self-
business should be promoted. Agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. It should
be strengthened by providing loans to farmers. Free of cost educations should be provided
to children in villages. Overall standard of living needs to be improved and inflation should
be controlled.

Lastly, for economic development, energy crises should be controlled. New dams should be
built and new methods of producing electricity should be utilized.
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Conclusion:
As stated in the start of essay, no country is free from socio-economic problems. These
problems are present in every country but the winners are those who overcome most if not
all of them. Though Pakistan is currently facing a lot of socio-political and socio-economic
problems but it doesn’t mean that it is going towards its end. Nations face multifarious
problems but together they work for towards the solution. The same is the need of hour.
Government as well as every single citizen of Pakistan has to play its own specific role to
bring about a positive change.