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Abstract
This paper emphasizes the environmental problems that Pakistan faces and the policy solutions that the government of Pakistan (GoP) have devised over the years to address these environmental problems. These problems include water pollution, air pollution, land pollution, deforestation, loss of biodiversity and climate change. The Analysis of the issues and the policies in Pakistan has allowed us to conclude that Pakistan has a very diverse set of environmental conditions prevailing across the country; therefore the set of problems related to environment is also very diverse. The existing environmental policy of Pakistan is a very elaborate one and has the capacity to solve environmental problems of Pakistan if it is properly implemented.
Keywords: Environmental problems, Pollution, Deforestation, Biodiversity
Introduction
As Pakistan has predominantly an agrarian economy, the environmental issues are of utmost importance to it as its main stake, the very agriculture, depends upon the suitable and sound environment (Wasti, 2013). Mismanagement of environment would not only have terrible consequences for the economy but would also be dangerous for the food security of the complete nation (Daly, 1996). As the land of Pakistan has historically been the food producer for not only itself but also for many other nations in the region. Given the importance of environment and more over the importance to favorable environment in the given situation is undeniable, making one to think that Government as well as people of Pakistan would lend requisite importance to this area. But, this has not been the case. Although more recently environment and the environmental issues are given some importance and leverage, but this has historically not been the case, it is rather a recent phenomenon.
The people of Pakistan were unfamiliar with the word "Environment" even many years after the first Ordinance in this regard was promulgated in 1983. It was called Environment Protection Ordinance. This ordinance created an apexcouncil called Environmental protection Council. This council met for the first time after 9 years of ordinance becoming effective (Khan, 2012). But unfortunately, even the rules for the implementation of this ordinance could not be formulated in thirteen long years until it was replaced with a parliamentary act in 1997. This clearly depicts the seriousness and importance environment had in the minds of...