A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, chaired by Senator Sherry Rehman, was held on Thursday amid strong concern over worsening air and water pollution across the country.
During the meeting, Senator Sherry Rehman informed the committee that the National Institute of Health (NIH) had reported the emergence of a new virus.
She said she did not want to create panic, but added that poor air quality was being linked to an increase in health risks. “Pakistan’s biggest killer today is air quality,” she remarked, warning that air pollution was claiming more lives than terrorism.
Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa briefed the committee, stating that 58 percent of air pollution in the province was caused by transport, while brick kilns remained a major contributor.
They said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not face environmental challenges of the same scale as Punjab, but stressed that the province still needed to find sustainable solutions for clean air.
During the discussion, Senator Waqar Mehdi questioned whether any action would be taken against those responsible for degrading air quality.
Senator Sherry Rehman strongly criticized the Capital Development Authority (CDA) over environmental negligence, repeatedly urging the CDA chairman to attend the next committee meeting. “If you don’t come next time, you know I won’t let this go,” she warned.
She said she was receiving daily images of trees being cut down and questioned why authorities were ignoring visible air pollution. She urged departments to follow the examples set by Punjab and Sindh in environmental regulation.
The committee also discussed the long-delayed water and sewage treatment plant project. CDA officials informed the committee that the tendering process was about to begin. However, Senator Sherry Rehman said the process had only moved forward due to pressure from the committee, accusing the CDA of prioritizing land plotting and profit-making over public welfare.
Secretary Climate Change told the committee that toxic water was entering Rawal Dam, posing serious health risks. He added that the CDA had sufficient funds and had developed new housing schemes in Margalla, but failed to invest in clean drinking water projects. Senator Sherry Rehman said the lack of proper water and sewage infrastructure was also a major factor behind the resurgence of polio.
“The poor do not have the resources to buy clean drinking water,” she said, adding that human lives were being put at risk due to inaction. She criticized the CDA for what she termed cosmetic campaigns, saying it spent money on advertisements instead of real environmental solutions.
Members of the committee echoed concerns over deforestation in the capital and demanded accountability. The chair directed that the CDA chairman must attend the next meeting, warning of strict action if the authority failed to respond.
The committee was also briefed by the Sindh EPA on air quality across the province. Officials said several cities in Sindh were exceeding prescribed air quality limits.
Senator Sherry Rehman stressed the need for uniform air quality standards nationwide, saying that if parameters applied to one city, they should apply equally to all.
Responding to a question about dust pollution in Larkana, Sindh EPA officials said rice cultivation could be a contributing factor. They also highlighted severe pollution caused by brick kilns in Umerkot.
Sindh EPA informed the committee that a survey of 558 brick kilns had been completed. Environmental protection notices were issued to 189 kilns, legal action taken against 83, fines imposed on 29, and operations of 12 kilns shut down.
Officials said zigzag technology had been installed in 10 kilns, while 10 awareness sessions were conducted. All manufacturing units were directed to use clean fuel, and brick kilns were instructed to avoid crop residue burning and instead use rice waste as fuel.
The committee reiterated that air and water pollution posed a serious threat to public health and called for immediate, coordinated action by all concerned authorities.
Reporter: Rozina Ali