ISLAMABAD, Aug 30 (INP): Pakistan’s industrial sector needs to adopt more solutions, which include innovative and smart solutions, to preserve energy, water, and other natural resources.
Industrial activities are a key contributor to the air, water, and soil pollution that is a leading cause of diseases and fatalities all over the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), outdoor air pollution is assumed to be responsible for 2% of all heart and lung conditions, 5% of all lung malignancies, and 1% of all chest infections.
Unfortunately, the industry in Pakistan, especially in private sector, lacks proper knowledge of better pollution management and prevention.

Dr Abedullah, Chief of Research at Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) Islamabad, told WealthPK that industries mainly contribute to water pollution.
“Groundwater is being affected badly in big cities of Punjab province like Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala due to industrial pollution. Effluent water is not being managed properly by these industries,” he said.
“Pakistan has far too many limitations when it comes to keeping track of historical trends or a useful database of all harmful diseases brought on by industrial pollutants across the country. That’s why we are still unable to figure out the harmful effects of these industrial pollutants on human beings,” Dr Abedullah said.

The researcher suggested that after issuance of the permit to the private industries, the government should make sure that these industries show proper compliance with monitoring and conditioning standards for the handling of effluent water. He said the government should impose strict restrictions and penalties in case of non-compliance with environmental standards.

Dr Iftikhar Ahmad, environmental economist, and assistant professor at PIDE, told WealthPK that 8,000 brick kilns out of a total of 20,000 units in Pakistan have switched to eco-friendly zig-zag technology to reduce the risk of air pollution and respiratory diseases. He said this is an important achievement in a country where the economy is heavily dependent industries.

“Lack of research across the industries is a big barrier to the sector's improvement. The best industrial companies are shaped by research and the ideas it puts forth. Industrial research institutes considerably reduce the void in the manufacturing and industrial sectors,” he said.

Dr Iftikhar said the government must establish and implement industrial reform programs to reduce pollution. Industrial zones should be separated from residential ones so that people can breathe clean air.

Pakistan is among those 12 Asian countries where industrial pollution is recorded at severe and unacceptable levels. More than 6.5 million people are hospitalized annually due to industrial pollution-related illnesses.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency must move fast in this area to ensure that the business complies with environmental standards. It is imperative that all export-oriented enterprises be accredited under the ISO 14000 standards because of the World Trade Organization's strict criterion for the safe disposal of hazardous materials, solid waste, and effluents.

Six million tonnes of coal might be saved using zigzag kilns, which would result in significant financial benefits for owners.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk