A change we detest

Pakistan is a signatory to various global bodies on climate change and has set up a separate ministry to tackle issues related to global warming. However, provincial environment protection agencies, which were responsible for keeping a check on factories that emit toxic smoke, are not carrying out their job in an efficient manner. Let’s consider this through an example: a renowned cement factory was established in the 1990s in the underdeveloped district of Lakki Marwat. According to some data collected by private agencies, around 50 people have died of industrial smoke and another 150 are suffering from various diseases caused by the toxic smoke that is being regularly emitted from the factory.

It is the responsibility of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to ensure that all factors that are responsible for posing serious threats to the environment and the people are dealt with in an appropriate manner. It requires a mention that instead of doing away with the factories that pollute the environment, the KP government has set up a factory in Sheikh Badin – an area where a large amount of tourism fund is spent to attract both foreign and domestic tourists. Industrial smoke coming out of the factory has tarnished the beauty of the valley. The authorities concerned must take appropriate steps to tackle the issue.

Barkatullah Marwat

Peshawar