




































In ternationa l
Scholars
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African Journal of Environmental Economics and Management ISSN 2375-0707 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 
2019. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals 

 

Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. 
 
 
 

Full Length Research Paper 

 

Identification of future environmental challenges 
in Pakistan by 2025 through environment 

foresight 

 
Waris Ali Gabol* and Aleem Ahmed 

 
Pakistan Technology Board, Ministry of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. 

 
Accepted 15 November, 2018 

 
Technology foresight is defined as “the process involved in systematically attempting to look into the longer term 
future of science, technology, the economy and society with the aim of identifying the areas of strategic research 
and the emerging generic technologies likely to yield the greatest economic and social benefits.” Technology 
foresight on environment sector was carried out under the supervision of Pakistan Technology Board on the theme 
“Environment 2025: Our future, our choices”. Social, technological, environmental, economical, political and values 
(STEEPV) is an internationally recognized tool for brainstorming used in conducting technology foresight worldwide 
and was used by environment panel for collection of issues and drivers, opinions, policies and projects for future of 
environment in Pakistan. More than 20 experts participated in the expert panel brainstorming workshops. A diverse 
panel was formed with representation from R and D organizations, Ministry of Environment, researchers and 
professors in universities, NGO and private sector organizations. A consensus was achieved by the panel on top 
four most important issues in environment sector which include; (a) water (b) loss of biodiversity, (c) solid waste 
and (d) energy. Furthermore, the causes, remedies, policy recommendations and project proposals were identified 
for each of the four issues. 

 

Key words: Technology foresight, environmental degradation, water as a resource, biodiversity loss, solid waste, energy, 
panel discussion, STEEPV, priority areas. 

 
INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW 

 
Technology foresight involves systematic attempts to look into 
the longer-term future of science and technology, and their 
potential impacts on society, with a view to identifying the 
emerging change factors, and the source areas of scientific 
research and technological development likely to influence 
change and yield the greatest economic, environmental and 
social benefits during the next 10 to 25 years (UNIDO, 2005).  

The term foresight came to be known in its present form in 
1980s, and it is used to describe the future-oriented activities 
connected with science, technology and innovation. Originally, 
there was no clear difference made between forecasting and 
foresight (European Commission, 2006). The tools used for 
forecasting are Delphi survey method and system analysis and 
were used in BRAND Corporation and USA defense sector in 
back 1950s. The companies at that time were mainly interested 
in forecasting method for business purposes for example, Shell  
 
 
 
*Corresponding author. E-mail: waris_gabol@yahoo.com. 

 
 
 
during 1960s; although, the need for forecasting also increased 
when oil crisis took place in the 1970s (Cuhls and Johnston, 
2006). In Japan the technological development took place in 
late 1960’s and on-wards (UNIDO, 2005). France and other 

European countries started the foresight initiatives in the early 
1980s. After a decade, Sweden, Australia and Canada 
experimentally started technology foresight in late 1980s and 
before 1990s. Today the technology foresight has gone far and 
several countries are engaged in technology foresight exercise 
that is, UK, USA, Australia, Sweden, Finland, China, India, 
Taiwan, Malaysia etc. Keeping in view the huge gains achieved 
through this exercise, the technology foresight project was 
initiated by Pakistan Technology Board, Ministry of Science and 

Technology which include the key major areas which are 
playing vital role for socio-economic development in country, 
these include; agriculture, energy , education, environment, 
information and communication technology (ICT), industry etc. 

This paper exclusively focuses on environmental 
challenges faced by country or will be faced in coming 
fifteen years. 



 
 
 

 

The foresight allows individuals to think/understand 
ahead and consider, model, create, and respond to, 
future eventualities. The strategic foresight group India 
reports on environmental cost of Middle East conflicts. It 
was noticed that ten million barrels of oil were spilt at sea 
as well as forty-five million in the desert during first Gulf 
War. Although Kuwait also suffered extreme land 
degradation with more than twenty percent of trees being 
lost and perhaps the most dreadful were releases of 
carbon dioxide from burning of oil fields. Moreover the 
first Gulf War also increased the share of carbon dioxide 
emission about 1.5% globally in 2003 and the share of 
the countries like as Saudi Arabia was 1.17% of the 
world’s carbon emissions, while Egypt, Israel and Jordan 
share much less than Saudi Arabia which were noted 
between 0.5 and 0.7% (Strategic Foresight Group 
Reports on Environmental Cost of Middle East Conflicts 
by Gitanjali Bakshi, February, 2009).  

These types of unnatural activities will diminish the 
planet in near future. The environmental degradation is 
increasing day by day in different countries, but the most 
vulnerable countries are Group 77 that includes 
Indonesia, China, Philippines, Columbia and other fifteen 
countries. Pakistan is also in the list of environmental 
vulnerable countries. The environmental issues and 
challenges being faced by Pakistan include; natural 
resource degradation, depletion and pollution of 
renewable fresh water resources, use of pesticides, noise 
and air pollution, solid waste pollution, soil degradation, 
desertification, biodiversity loss, improper discharge of 
industrial waste etc. (Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 2008). 
Pollution due to the ineffective management has emerged 
as a major environmental concern in Pakistan. Its natural 
resources are increasingly under pressure with rapid 
population growth and environmentally unsustain-able 
and ineffective practices and its fresh water resources are 
being fast depleted which has pushed Pakistan into the 
category of water stressed countries. 
 

Industrial discharges are continually contaminating the 
country’s best soil and water resources (surface and 
ground water) and solid waste dumped on low-lying land 
or burnt in open air generates dust and carcinogenic 
pollutants with adverse health implications (Islamic 
Republic of Pakistan, 2008).  

Pakistan also faces other severe environmental issues 
and challenges caused by natural hazards such as, 
floods, earthquakes, droughts, and cyclones. Pakistan is 
also in the list of those countries which are damaged by 
cyclone and flooding. Cyclones cause significant damage 
in the coastal areas as well as destroy standing crops 
several hundred kilometers inland. Additional environment 
challenges due to climate change are expected to directly 
impact on Pakistan’s economy which results in loss of 6% 
of GDP (Pakistan Strategic Environmental Assessment 
Report, 2006). For coping and devising an effective 
strategy for upcoming environmental challenges, the 
environment foresight study has been conducted in 

 
 
 
 

 

Pakistan under foresight project for giving some 
suggestions and recommendation on most important 
issues. 

 

METHODOLOGY 
 
Expert panel discussion using STEEPV 
 
Expert panel was formed on Environment sector which was 
represented by members from academia, industry, R and D 
organizations, private sector, NGO’s and civil organizations UNIDO 
(2005). The panel met for about five times during a period of six 
months. The members were identified through face to face 
meetings and co-nomination process. The experts selected were 
mainly the heads of their respective organizations such as: Chief 
Environment, Planning Commission, Director General, Ministry of 
Environment, Head IUCN, Islamabad, Head UNDP, Energy and 
Environment section, Regional Manager, Pakistan Wetlands 
Program, Dean Faculty of Applied and Basic Sciences, International 
Islamic University, Dean Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam 
University, Manager Technical Assistance, ASIANICS, CEO of 
strengthening participatory organization, Islamabad, Deputy 
Director, National Biosafety Center, (Pak EPA), Director, Pakistan 
Environmental Protection Council, Chief Wild life Planning 
Commission.  

There were about twenty members who were part of the panel, 
while many experts responded through e-mails. The proceeding of 
each workshop was shared between all panel members through on-
line groups. The panel assessed the current situation of 
environment in Pakistan and identified key trends and opportunities 
on the horizon of 10 to 15 years. The standard method of STEEPV, 
UNIDO (2005) was used by panel members for the brainstorming 
sessions to identify a number of issues and drivers, 
recommendations and key areas of technological intervention. 

 
Social 
 
(1) Environment oriented research and development should be 
promoted.  
(2) Environment conscious society needed.  
(3) Increasing population is a big social factor. 
(4) Literacy rate is a big issue.  
(5) Awareness regarding environment should be created.  
(6) Youth population trend. 
(7) Environment oriented education for youth required.  
(8) Social cohesiveness needed.  
(9) Youth can be a change agent for Pakistan.  
(10) Cross sectoral socialization required. 

 

Technological 
 
(1) Use of environmental friendly technologies lacking.  
(2) Male dominant technologies.  
(3) Environmental friendly fertilizers. 
(4) Role of media to create awareness.  
(5) Reliance on foreign resources.  
(6) Technology for environment for example GIS.  
(7) Youth access to IT needs to be ensured. 
(8) Dissemination of knowledge.  
(9) Solutions should be based on logic. 

 

Economy 
 
(1) Poverty a big issue. 



 
 
 

 
(2) Per capita availability. 
(3) Economy of environment.  
(4) Distribution of wealth.  
(5) Incentives for media. 

 

Environmental 
 
(1) Controlled pesticides usage.  
(2) Minimum use of pollutants.  
(3) Rural urban shift needs to be considered. 
(4) District wise study of environment.  
(5) Water issues to be solved.  
(6) Pilot projects should be initiated.  
(7) Environment technology parks and incubation centres required 
(8) Green labeling should be introduced.  
(9) Water pollution (surface /underground).  
(10) Biodiversity destruction/extinctions/deforestation/ecosystem 
degradation. 
(11) Land use changes/land degradation/ soil pollution.  
(12) Solid waste pollution.  
(14) Population growth. 
(15) Climate change and global warming.  
(16) Introduction of genetic modified organisms (GMO’S).  
(17) Devastation of natural habitats.  
(18) Diminishing natural resources. 
(19) Air pollution.  
(20) Noise pollution.  
(21) Thermal pollution.  
(22) Pesticides pollution. 
(23) Radioactive waste (pollution).  
(24) Industrial pollution. 

 

Political 
 
(1) Lack of political will and vision. 
(2) Need to exploit human resources.  
(3) Political choices and awareness regarding environment friendly 
technologies.  
(4) Enforcement and implementation problems.  
(5) PEMRA should be forced to allocate 10% of time for public 
service messages.  
(6) Green journalists forum should be established. 

 

Values 
 
(1) Ethical issues.  
(2) Gender issues.  
(3) Psychological slavery. 
(4) Equity and equality of distribution.  
(5) Religious aspect needs to be considered.  
(6) Mindset needs to be changed. 
(7) Involve media, parents and teachers in creating awareness.  
(8) Message oriented advertisements and environment impact 
assessment of advertisements required Voting for the Identification 
of top environment issues. 

 
After the identification of issues and drivers, the next step was to list 
down the top four issues in environment sector. 
 
The top four most important issues highlighted by members were; 
 
(1) Water 
 
(i) Resources 
(ii) Pollution  
(iii) Drinking Water) 

  
  

 
 

 
2. Loss of biodiversity 
 
(a) Forestry 
(b) Wildlife  
(c) Rangeland  
(d) Invasive species 
 
3. Solid waste 
 
(a) Industrial  
(b) Urban waste  
(c) Hospital 
 
4 Energy 
 
(a) Residue burning  
(b) Alternative energy resources 
(c) Energy related pollution  
(d) Inefficient use of energy 

 
The most important issue was identified as water which was 
discussed in detail and was further classified into three main 
categories that is resource, pollution and drinking water (potable 
water). The expert panel discussed the major challenges in water 
related issues. It was discussed that water scarcity is becoming a 
serious issue all around the world and Pakistan is no exception. 
Historically, the water crises originated in the Middle East and 
naturally it lead to arm conflict over the resources. The water 
resources, including fresh and ground water has shrinked fastly and 
water availability per capita is going to be reduced also (Chietigj, 
2006).  

Pakistan, India and China have been sharing same water 
supplies originating from Tibetan Plateau (Figure 1) (Yang and Du 
2004), Tibetan China, India, and Pakistan’s status has gone near to 
water-scarce countries list quickly. If we go back into history, we 
find that in 1951, India’s annual water availability per person was 

5,277 m
3
. In the 1990s, it fell to 2,464 m

3
. By 2025, it is projected to 

fall dangerously close to the 1,000 cubic meters level (Vandana, 
2002). As for China; its water availability per person was 4,597 in 
1950 and 2,427 in the 1990s – slightly above the sufficiency 
threshold level. However, by 2025, it is assessed that China’s water 

availability will plummet to 1,818 m
3
, an alarming number for an 

approximate population of 1.5 billion (Charles et al., 2003). Finally, 
Pakistan’s water availability per person in 1950 was an amazing 

10,590 m
3
 per person. However, it fell drastically to 3,962 in the 

1990s and is projected to level out at 1,803 by 2025. 

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
 
Water related Issues 

 

The expert panel on environment highlighted the causes, 
remedies, policy recommendations and projects on water, 
which includes water as a resource (surface, ground and 
coastal water), water pollution (industrial, municipal, 
agricultural and mining) and drinking water (depletion etc.)  
The causes which were identified include;  
mismanagement, climate change, deforestation, 
population increase, poverty, lack of political will and 
vision, enforcement and implementation problem, 
unequal distribution of wealth, lack of media role in 
environment awareness among masses, less proportion 
of literacy rate, lack of youth population trend towards 
environment, lack of social cohesiveness towards 
environment, use of environmental friendly technologies 



  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
Figure 1. Water supplies originating from Tibetan Plateau.  
Source: The China –India –Pakistan water crisis. Prospects for interstate conflict (James F.  
Brennan Lieutenant United States Navy B.A; Wabash College, 1997), 

 

 

lacking, ethical issues, lack of women consciousness in 
environment related issues, lack of religious aspects 
towards environment, lack of mindset changes towards 
sustainable environment, inequitable water distribution 
and management in irrigation sector, in-efficiency in water 
distribution (water losses, theft, channeling etc.), 
droughts, lack of public participation, lack of latest 
technologies, lack of co-ordination among organization 
which are already working in water related issues, 
improper water supply, lack of water recycling and reuse, 
ground water contamination, excessive ground water 
harvesting, subsidies in electricity for tube-wells, ground 
water pumping, industrial demand, mangrove destruction, 
lack of understanding of coastal waters and coastal 
ecosystems, bleaching of corals due to climate change 
impacts, fishing of endangered species such as some 
sharks, cutting and lopping of mangrove forests, pollution 
risks from oil pouring in the sea, discharge of untreated 
waste in water bodies, lack of collection, disposal and 
management of domestic and industrial waste, excess 
use of pesticides and agriculture runoff. 
 

 

Remedies 

 

A  number  of  remedies were  listed  down  for the above 

mentioned issues which include; construction of 

reservoirs, water audits and licensing/water pricing, 

watershed management, forestation because forest play 

vital role in biological re-charge mechanisms, water 

recycling, rain water  harvesting, through  introduction  of 
rain water collection system by using  rain  water barrels, 

 
 

 

regular monitoring of water quality, awareness about 
water conservation with respect to religious and technical 
aspect, controlled pesticides usage and encouraging the 
natural organic farming, minimum use of pollutant, rural 
urban shift needs to be considered, district wise 
environmental study needs to be conducted to cope these 
issues, environment technology parks and incubation 
centers needs to be required, message oriented 
advertisements on water conservation strategies, political 
choices and awareness regarding water should be 
promoted, needs to exploit human resource in water 
conservation and management, water conscious society 
needed, water oriented education for youth required, 
youth can be a change agent for Pakistan, use of 
technology for water management for example G.I.S, 
introduction of water metering system, make efficient use 
of residential indoors and out door water by introducing 
water saver kits, education on water conservation, 
Pakistan Standards and Quality control authority should 
develop standard for clothes washer and make ensure 
implementation throughout the country, zoning of the 
coastal belt, afforestation of mangrove, control over 
fishing, reduced oil pouring into sea, implementation of 
ramsar, convention, minimize waste wherever practicable, 
use products designed to enable cost effective waste, 
reuse and recovery material where feasible, use products 
manufactured with minimal resource, consumption in the 
first place, use products efficiently and according to best 
practice, comply with waste legislation, enforcement of the 
waste management licensing regulations, waste 
minimization (reduce, re-use and re-cycling), promotion of 
bio-degradable waste for example replacement of 



 
 
 

 

plastic shopping bags, Regulation of drinking water use 
for purposes other than drinking for example car wash 
with it. 
 

 

Policy recommendations and projects 

 

An integrated national water policy which encompass 
surface and ground water, water conservation strategies 
in selected cities of Pakistan based on the use of efficient 
technologies and other conservation measures to achieve 
greater water efficiency and increased sustainability 
within their jurisdiction, Installation of water recycling 
plants in selected cities of Pakistan, desalination of the 
brackish ground water by reverse osmosis, to establish 
Islamabad as a “water conservation conscious city. 
 
 

 

Causes related to loss of biodiversity 

 

Loss of biodiversity was recognized as the second most 
important burning issue by the panel which includes 
forestry, wildlife, rangeland and invasive species.  

According to the experts, the causes for loss of bio-
diversity include; deforestation, population growth, 
desertification, land degradation, exotic species, diseases 
(for example Shisham die back in Pakistan), conversion 
of forests lands, over grazing, trampling, and other 
livestock grazing impacts on forests (clearly observed in 
scrub and thorn forests), in-effective management of 
forests at state and community levels, de-linking social 
aspects of forestry, hunting, land use changes, lack of 
planning, lack rule and regulations, lack of awareness, 
lack of policy implementation, cartagena protocol exists 
only for living modified organisms. 
 

 

Remedies 

 

Conserving natural forests with ecologically viable 
management, forests policy and management at national 
and provincial levels, forests harvesting within allowed 
scientifically proven incremental limits, re-forestation, and 
afforestation of degraded and denuded forest lands, 
controlling and regulating livestock grazing through 
rotational exclusion of grazing, promoting rainwater 
harvesting techniques, discouragement of ground water 
harvesting for irrigation in water stress areas, reclaiming 
waterlogged and saline lands with the involvement of 
local communities/private sector; and rehabilitation of 
degraded. 
 
 

Policy recommendations and projects 

 
The policy recommendations should encompass the 
following areas for sustainable range lands, biodiversity, 

  
  

 
 

 

and forestry sectors in Pakistan. 
 

(a) Population planning 

 

The population planning agencies in Federal, Provincial 
and Local Governments and NGO’s shall formulate and 
implement culturally appropriate strategies and action 
plans of invigorating population planning programmes in 
critical ecosystems such as the wooded mountain, arid, 
coastal and estuarine environments. 
 

(b) Promotion of education in forest areas 

 

The education departments in Federal, Provincial and 
local governments and NGO’s shall intensify their 
activities for promoting education particularly female 
education in and around the forest areas. This will help in 
curtailing early marriages, reducing child bearing age and 
complement population planning efforts. 

 
(c) Reducing firewood, fodder and timber use pressure 
on forest. 

 
In order to reduce the use of firewood, fodder and timber 
the following steps should be taken for healthy and 
sustainable environment: 

 

(i) All the concerned government agencies and 
international and national firms shall extend the supply of 
piped natural gas, LPG, Solar energy and micro-hydro 
power to areas of critical ecosystems, especially the 
wooded mountains and coastal areas, so as to reduce 
the use of firewood, fodder and timber, which play an 
important role in environment rehabilitation.  
(ii) All agencies which are carrying out research on 
domestic energy shall be assisted to focus on key priority 
research so as to reduce the cost and increase the 
acceptability of substitutes to firewood such as solar 
energy, bio gas, local coal etc.  
(iii) Planting of multipurpose trees on the farmlands and 
wasteland shall be encouraged and promoted for use as 
fire wood, fodder and construction timber.  
(iv) Plantations of multipurpose tree species shall also be 
promoted on communal wastelands.  
(v) The import of timber and timber products shall be 
liberalized in order to reduce timber demand on meager 
forest resources.  
(vi) Growing of fodder crops on farmlands shall be 
promoted in order to reduce grazing pressure on the 
forest and help establishment of natural regeneration. 
 
(d)  Reducing poverty 
 
(i) In the poverty alleviation and other development 
programs high priority shall be given to integrated land 
use projects for the sustainable rehabilitation of natural 
resources with the participation of organized local 
communities. Such projects not only provide employment 
to the rural poor but also increase household income 



 
 
 

 

from agriculture and live stock thereby reducing 
dependence on meager forest resources.  
(ii) The sustainable utilization of non wood forest products 
like medicinal plants, mushrooms, honey, gums wild fruits 
and nuts shall be promoted as income generating 
activities for the rural poor.  
(iii) Eco tourism shall be promoted in the mountain areas 
by way of identifying and publicizing the sites for rock 
climbing, trekking, wildlife spotting/sighting, and 
photography, trophy hunting and fishing.  
(iv) Federal, Provincial and District Governments shall 
create job opportunities through skill development in the 
mountainous areas of the country. 

 
(e) Reducing political interference in Forestry and Wildlife 
Departments: 

 

(i) Government shall maintain and improve the status of 
professionals relating to forests, rangelands and wetlands 
for ensuring the realizations of the goals of this policy. 
Interference of non professionals in their management of 
the respective natural resources shall be eliminated.  
(ii) Raising of awareness of the general masses about 
natural resource management and use  
(iii) Ensuring the civil society has a say in natural 
resource planning and management through the creation 
of round tables at provincial, regional and district level; 
and,  
(iv) Creation of independent forestry commissions at 
provincial level for monitoring and overseeing the affairs 
of the forestry sector. 
 

(f)  Biodiversity 

 

(i) The provincial governments and other administrative 
units shall be encouraged and assisted in establishing 
national protected area system covering all types of 
ecosystems including juniper forest and chulghoza forest 
of Baluchistan and spruce forest in Northern areas and 
some samples of primary forest.  
(ii) It shall be ensured that at least 12% of land area of all 
representative ecosystems in Pakistan is protected.  
(iii) Such protected areas shall be surrounded by buffer 
zones and linked by biological corridors where necessary.  
(iv) Overlap between the protected area system and 
biosphere systems shall be avoided.  
The local people having rights in any ecologically 
sensitive area shall be involved in decision-making 
process of including the area in national protected area 
system.  
(v) Areas included in national protected area system shall 
be managed with active participation of the communities.  
(vi) Conservation, sustainable use and farming of wild 
species shall be given priority in development planning.  
(vii) Appropriate incentive measure shall be provided to 
improve local livelihoods supporting biodiversity 
conservation. 

 
 
 
 

 

(viii) The traditional knowledge of the local people shall 
be documented for protection of intellectual property 
rights under an improved proprietary rights regime as 
protected areas system wide management plans shall be 
drawn up.  
(ix) Conservation of bio diversity shall be integrated in to 
all sectoral and cross-sectoral national and provincial, 
level strategies.  
(x) The federal government shall provide financial, 
technical and operating support to the provincial wildlife 
departments in conservation efforts and implementation 
of inter national treaties and conventions ratified by the 
government of Pakistan.  
(xi) The approach of collaborative management and 
trophy hunting shall be extended to other areas.  
(xii) The capacity of the department staff and 
communities shall be built in different disciplines of 
wildlife management.  
(xiii) Measures shall be taken for the captive breeding of 
wildlife, particularly the endangered species.  
(xiv) To ensure proper conservation uniformity shall be 
brought in wildlife laws and rules presently in vogue in 
different provinces and administrative units.  
(xv) Check posts shall be established at all airports and 
seaports to check the illegal trade of wild animals, birds 
and their products.  
(xvi) It shall be made obligatory for the custom staff at 
airports and seaports not to allow trade in wildlife species 
and their body parts with out valid documents from the 
competent, governments.  
(xvii) All the wetlands falling in forest and grasslands shall 
be conserved in accordance with the obligation of 
Ramsar convention on wet lands of international 
importance. 
 

(g)  Semi-arid and arid range lands 

 

(i) The government and civil society institutions shall 
undertake a sustained awareness raising campaign about 
the importance of rangelands.  
(ii) The government of Pakistan shall provide financial 
assistance for rehabilitation and sustainable management 
of these ranges – a part of the poverty alleviation funds in 
the districts will be dedicated for this purpose.  
iii) Range management and rehabilitation plans shall be 
developed and implemented through community 
participation.  
(iv) Proper incentive measures including assured tenurial 
and usufruct rights, legal reforms and financial 
mechanisms would be designed to compensate the 
pastoral communities for restoring and maintaining the 
ecological health of the range lands.  
(v) The local governments shall develop effective periodic 
closures of rangelands to rehabilitate them and ensure 
sustainable livelihood to range dwellers.  
(vi) Integrated development projects shall be initiated in 
these areas with focus on restoration of community 



 
 
 

 

based management systems.  
vii) Alternate approaches shall be tried for rehabilitation 
and sustainable management of rangelands.  
(viii) Planting of multipurpose tree species shall be 
encouraged in order to meet the local needs of fodder, 
firewood and timber. 

 

h)  Sub alpine and alpine pastures 

 

(i) The restoration and sustainable management of these 
pastures shall get priority in development planning.  
(ii) The restoration process shall be executed through 
grazer’s participation.  
(iii) The awareness level of the grazers shall be raised 
and their capacities built in sustainable management 
approaches and techniques.  
(iv) Rotational grazing shall be introduced for restoring 
the health of the pastures.  
(v) Suitable fodder tree species shall be planted on the 
boundaries and along the ravine for increasing the fodder 
supply.  
(vi) Where soil erosion is taking place, suitable soil 
conservation measures shall be adopted.  
(viii) In depleted pastures, ecological balance of species 
will be restored to enhance the fodder and nutritious 
value of the pastures.  
(ix) Corridors will be identified and secured for the 
passage of the migratory livestock through the natural 
forests in transit to the pastures, especially where 
security of regeneration of a forest(s) may so warrant. 

 

The panellist emphasized launch of the following projects 
in biodiversity sector of Pakistan: 

 

(1) Aggressive afforestation and reforestation 
programmes with plantation suited to the looming climate 
change.  
(2) Biological control of forest pests by maintaining viable 
populations of predatory birds and insects through 
restricted use of chemical insecticide.  
(3) Preservation of rangelands through Increase of 
grasslands using appropriate varieties of grass in saline 
and waterlogged zones to prevent their degradation.  
(4) Assisting genetically impoverished species or those 
that have important ecosystem functions by providing 
natural migration corridors as well as assisted migration.  
(5) Use of gene banks, seed banks, zoos and botanical 
gardens for preserving genetic diversity and conserving 
species. 
 

 

Issues related to solid waste and energy 

 

Other issues such as solid waste and energy were also 
discussed by panel; they highlighted that solid waste and 
energy problem is also creating alarming condition in 
Pakistan. The sectors contributing in solid waste and 

  
  

 
 

 

energy identified by expert panel were Industrial, Urban, 
and Hospital waste while in terms of energy residue 
burning, alternative energy resource , energy related 
pollution , and inefficient use of energy were identified. 
They found that in present situation water and biodiversity 
both are very critical and in coming fifteen years their 
condition will become more worsening than present. 
Moreover, the biodiversity sector can also help to 
overcome the energy crises. Therefore, experts focused 
and stressed on water and biodiversity related issues for 
creating sustainable economy in Pakistan. 
 

 

Conclusion 

 

From the environment foresight, Pakistan faces some 
serious challenges on the horizon. Amongst which water 
and loss of biodiversity are the most significant. The 
panel agreed to the fact that Pakistan will become a 
water scarce country if urgent steps are not taken to 
tackle the issue and already it is considered amongst the 
most water-scarce countries in the world. Per capita 
availability of water has reduced significantly over the 
years. A large number of population does not have 
access to clean drinking water with more than 90% of 
water being consumed for our Agriculture. In addition to 
water, other issues such as loss of biodiversity, solid 
waste and energy were considered to be major 
challenging areas for Pakistan on the horizon of next ten 
to fifteen years and a collaborative and a coordinated 
approach on part of all stakeholders will be needed to 
overcome these issues in an effective manner. 
 

 
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