Despite concerted efforts by both governmental and non-governmental organisations, the situation of environmental pollution in Pakistan is not improving. The year 2005 witnessed a very little progress in this direction, despite the fact the government claims that it has formed National Environment Policy (NEP) and the federal cabinet has approved, there was no improvement in this direction.

The controversy over construction of a new human settlement near Patriata in the name of New Murree further aggravated when the Punjab Government pushed its efforts despite protests by environment activists and nature conservatives, who fear that the environment of beautiful hills would be destroyed with construction of a new settlement. The lady luck seems to be unfavourable to beautiful hilly areas of Pakistan in the northern side as their beauty was marred by the devastated earthquake on October 8, 2005.

October 8 Earthquake

The October 8, 2005 earthquake in some parts of Hazara division in NWFP, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and parts of Indian held Kashmir is considered one of the deadliest earthquakes in the history of Pakistan, when not only over 80,000 people lost their lives, the country suffered loss in environment and infrastructure.

The aid workers and Pakistan Army is facing difficulties in properly dealing with the clearance and safe disposal of debris of the devastated buildings in the villages and cities. The amount of debris generated from the devastated cities/villages is such a huge and disposing it properly is going to be a massive challenge and it would take a lot of time. Even the United Nations has warned that waste and debris left in the wake of the 8 October earthquake could become toxic and seriously endanger survivors' health. Pakistan's environment minister also said reforestation was essential to prevent more deadly landslides.

Although it is difficult to estimate the volume of debris and extent of damage to environment, the experts believe that debris and waste quantities due to earthquake are unprecedented. A lot of the waste can turn toxic; can degenerate into toxic material, thereby posing serious challenges to health, said environmental expert Tahir Qureshi of IUCN.

A large number of aid workers had reached to the quake affected areas and the relief work is still going on. Presence of such a large number or relief workers and their relief efforts may also have an impact on the environment. For example, a lot of waste has been generated in the form of packing, plastic and other material and there is no proper mechanism to dispose it. This situation has posed a great danger to the environment of these areas, which were famous for their unpolluted environment.

According to the IUCN report there is a risk of deforestation for energy needs, temporary shelters and reconstruction, with possible consequences like landslides, erosion and floods. Other environmental risks, like stone mining for reconstruction, might cause further damage to the environment. There may be further deforestation when new cities, temporary settlements or other needs emerge. For instance, suggestions are being made to shift Muzaffarabad to a nearby forested valley. This would have a severe impact on the forest in the valley. Other new settlements may also emerge by clearing forested areas, since clearing of debris in existing settlements may be more difficult and time consuming.

The NWFP government's Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has planned to assess the damage to the environment by conducting a detailed survey. Due to a general lack of sanitation facilities and leaching of hazardous material/substances into water bodies from destroyed warehouses, maintenance facilities, etc., there is a great danger of runoff from destroyed towns and villages and temporary settlements contaminating water bodies.

The IUCN report suggests a detailed Environmental Assessment (REA) should be undertaken, based on the findings of the scoping mission. The detailed REA will further build on the findings of other ongoing assessments and will come up with concrete suggestions.

There is an immediate need to develop guidelines, which can assist relief agencies in undertaking relief operations with minimal environmental damage. The IUCN plans to develop guidance from other existing guidelines. The guidelines will be shared with the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority (ERRA), other government agencies involved in relief operations, local, bilateral and multilateral relief organisations and relevant civil society organizations. It will be a dynamic document and will need to be revised, based on the input received.

National Environment Policy (NEP)

Although Pakistan has no good track record in environment protection, the good news during the year was that the federal cabinet has approved the first-ever National Environment Policy (NEP), which has given a hope for some improvement in environment.

The policy envisages a five-year Medium-Term Development Framework 2005-10 in which 150 projects estimated at Rs 28.4billion will be implemented to reduce noise, water and air pollution and to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals.

According to the policy documents, work on about 40 per cent of the 71 guidelines proposed in the policy has already been initiated. An amount of Rs 7 billion has been earmarked for the brown sector, Rs 6.8billion for the green sector, Rs 4.6billion for sectoral and human resource development and Rs 10 billion for the supply of clean drinking water.

For the sustainable management of mining and oil exploration interventions and rehabilitation of expired mines/exploration sites, a 'Marine Pollution Control Commission' will be established besides framing the Pakistan Oil Pollution Act, launching of the National Oil Spill Contingency Plan. The government will introduce discharge licensing system for industry and devise and implement the National Sanitation Policy and master plans for treatment of municipal and industrial waste water in urban and rural areas.

The government will implement the National Forest Policy and provide alternative sources of energy, like piped natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LPG), solar energy and micro-hydel power station to rural areas.

The government will establish a "National Clean Development Mechanism Authority," devise and implement the National Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, encourage the use of ozone-friendly technologies and phase out the use of ozone depleting substances in line with the provisions of the Montreal Protocol.

This policy will cover pollution problems in all sectors including water, transport, forest etc. After implementation of the policy, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) will be strictly followed even in government projects.

Pakistani women had their share of achievements and disillusionment in 2005. Country had the first Women Governor of the State Bank, that without sounding cynical, may be a symbolic change largely dependent on the ensuing developments, working environment, capacities and capabilities of Dr Shamshad Akhter.

Mukhtaran Mai, a victim of brutal assault and gang rape, undergoing series of immense pain and insult managed to seek state support against a crime committed quite frequently in our part under false perception of superiority and chauvinism. The lady, a semi literate young girl, was able to draw global attention under patronage of the government that frequently reminds world of its commitment towards upliftment of women folk in the country.

This, however, was contradicted, by another incident of similar sort with Dr Shazia as a victim. The lady doctor serving in a well-protected government facility in one of the remote areas of the country, Sui happens to be bastion of Bugti Tribe, controlled by a well-known Sardar.

The, incident again of gang rape, was marked with allegations and counter allegations. Ultimately the victim was provided a safe passage outside the country. She along with her husband, who at the time incident was working in one of the Middle Eastern countries, preferred to seek asylum in Canada.

Consequently, statement by the lady doctor was not approved by the state. This was to the extent that her reported plight was hinted to be fabricated. Without being judgmental, Pakistani women in general did feel that mindset towards their vulnerability must not be ignored nor undermined.

Need for women and humanists equally support a system, which guarantees security and justice to all women in Pakistan. An average Pakistani woman does not approve washing dirty linen abroad - But is also fully conscious of the fact that feudal mindset prevails in all ranks and segments.

It was in 2005 that President Pervez Musharraf promulgated ìThe Karo-Kari Bill ì to counter rampant culture of Honor Killing. It admitted honor killing as an offence-able crime. Another important aspect of the Karo-Kari Ordinance was minimising the Repercussions of Blasphemy and Hudood Laws respectively. As it was made necessary that no woman would be arrested for blasphemy or under Hudood without court permission.

Moreover, under the karo-kari bill "Badl-e- Sulal" had been declared punishable while elements registering wrong complaint against women under Hadd will themselves is tried for a criminal offence. Against the trend, with junior police officers handling cases related to Hadd and/or honor killing. It was now pre-requisite that the officer investigating is not below SP rank.

Consequent to this development, we also came across frequent claims made by government regarding necessary modifications in the Hudood Ordinance and introducing a bill to combat instances of domestic violence in the country. Any concrete step in this regard could not be witnessed in the country during 2005.

Certain relevant measures adopted by the Ministry of Women Development included establishment of 10 Crisis Centers in different parts of the country in the year 2004-2005 and another 10 during fiscal year 2005-2006. These centers are supposed to be managed by NGO Management Committees. There still exist several hiccups, required to be moved in the larger interest of women folk. One of these could be authorizing the crisis center workers to take suo motto notice of women harassment or their being subjected to exploitation or torture.

Government with a view to implement Gender Reform Action Plan (GRAP) also made a budgetary allocation of Rs. 300 million. Ministry of Women Development claimed it to be first of its kind of strategy adopted bridge gender gaps prevalent in the country. Confidence is also being expressed that the GRAP strategy would open fresh vistas for women in governance structures at federal, provincial and district levels ultimately trickling down to the union council levels. Of the mentioned allocated amount Rs. 250 million will be provided to the provinces and districts through provincial finance commissions.

As the country experienced second of the local government polls across the country in 2005, the government in view of difficulties faced by women voters announced to enhance women accessibility to polling booths and their direct involvement in the exercise. Hence the number of these booths, exclusively meant for women would be increased to 74,000 from existent 34,000 booths by 2007.

It may be mentioned that implementation of GRAP was not announced through any notification or the federal cabinet but unanimously adopted ordinance. Whether this would be discussed by parliament and required changes are incorporated in accordance to suggestion of the public representatives is yet to be seen. Intentions, however, seem to be positive and women friendly. Under the GRAP Strategy there will not only be 10% fixed job quota for women in different government departments but it would be further ensured that atleast 10 % government employees, falling in Basic Pay Scale 17 to Basic Pay Scale 22, are women government servants. In a nutshell opportunities for promotional growth and progress would be provided to women employees.

The year 2005 had its share of expectations and pain of unmet needs for the people of Pakistan, in specific context of health sector. It was a pleasant surprise witnessing considerable increase in the budgetary allocation for health sector, a follow up of the raise made in the previous year. But, if these could trickle down to the grass root levels, particularly to the masses in remote and rural areas, remained to be registered.

There were all hopes to secure zero prevalence rates in context of Polio in 2005; the incidence rate was markedly contained as compared to corresponding periods in the previous years. 26 confirmed polio cases were but reported from across the country till end of December. This does rekindle a hope among the optimistic souls that Pakistan may have no fresh case of the crippling diseases by early 2006. Maintaining the status of zero prevalence for three consecutive years would ultimately help our country to be globally notified as "Polio Free Country" by 2009.

Sindh appeared to be the first province in the country coming forward with an elaborate and extensive health policy, encompassing almost all aspects of health care. The document could not be placed before the Assembly for necessary debate, prior to its implementation, during 2005. This perhaps reflects the low priority of health by our representatives in the decision-making bodies.

During this year, the people of Pakistan remained under grip of strong fear with regard to possible outbreak of different viral and bacterial infections. Import of cattle from India, without necessary vigilance and examination enhanced every possibility of the spread of Mouth and Foot diseases in the local cattle. This was but contained with strong signals to avoid rampant complacency.

Bird Flu virus was another serious condition that too was averted due to climatic conditions, but its reported outbreak in neighboring countries makes crucial for necessary preventive measures. We Pakistanis, however, could not avoid Dengue Haemmoragic Fever and Congo Crimean Fever, spread respectively through mosquitoes and tick that flourishes on cattle skin. The second of the condition is directly linked to health of animals used by us in varied manners.

Need to strengthen our Malaria Roll Back Program on strong and realistic grounds remained to be a far cry against the backdrop of poor hygienic conditions in almost all parts of the country.

Pakistan which till 2004 was categorized as among low prevalence but high risk country with regard to prevalence of HIV/AIDS, reported with "Concentrated Epidemic". Prevalence of the human immune virus was found to be among five percent of the population. These included 26% of the intravenous drug users. There happens to be an estimated population of five million drug users in Pakistan including 1.5 million in Sindh. The trend holds its severe implications as incidence of Hepatitis B and C is also surging among these addicts. Alarmingly, many of the HIV carriers are registered to be maintaining normal marital life besides resorting to sale of blood to the patients in need.

No addition was made in the number of three duly recognised Rehabilitation Centers in the province - these three are catering to mere 10% of the 30,000 to 40,000 Sindh based IDUs.

The Sindh Safe Blood Transfusion Act was attempted to be introduced across the province. Yet, only a few of the blood banks could be registered fulfilling the criterion, hence leaving large majority of the blood recipients in lurch, with no option but to rely on sketchy sources.

There also appeared to be no let-up in the incidence rate of different other diseases effecting children. This is pertinent against the backdrop of the fact that infant and childhood mortality are sensitive indicators of inequity and poverty. We found Malnutrition, Measles, Malaria, Diarrhea and other diseases including prenatal complications persisting round the year. The scenario thus makes evident as why under five death rate continues to be 103 per 1000 kids below the age of five and infant mortality remains stuck to 76 per 1000 children below one year.

Almost similar was the plight of women. There was no improvement in the maternal health care and survival indicators.

Federal Government in close collaboration with provincial and district governments launched a Rs. 31, 514 million National Maternal and Child Health Project 2005 to 2010. The proposed amount translates to Rs. 34 per person per year, which is much below the international recommendation that is minimum RS 180 per person per year for any Safe Motherhood Package.

It focuses on alarmingly high maternal mortality and morbidity rates in the country along with almost equally critical incidence of infant deaths. The program focussing on improve health status of mothers and children would ensure provision for community based skilled birth attendants and for this no less than 10,000 community based skilled birth attendants would be trained and deployed across the country in next five years.

The above two cited aspects are said to be further supplemented by a comprehensive family planning services against an estimated cost of Rs. 2638 million; Child and Neonatal Health Strategy with an estimated expenditure of Rs. 7770 million under which quality child care services would be strengthened in more than 7000 health facilities involving 15,000 health care providers. Management and Organizational Reforms, Advocacy and Demand Creation Interventions, Monitoring and Evaluation Framework are some of the other essential components of the National Maternal and Child Health Program.

Another significant and needed development in 2005 was the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC's) initiative to strengthen its nuclear medicine program focussing on expansion of nuclear medical center network across the country and training the local man-power in the relevant field. PAEC embarked upon a program to establish an efficient network of nuclear medicine clinics at maximum two hours distance for all country men. For the very purpose a Nuclear Medicine Directorate was constituted with provision for adequate funding, proper planning and availability of relevant manpower to help materialize public accessibility.

Establishment of a chain of breast care clinics along with mobile breast care units that would be covering rural areas well equipped to motivate and persuade high risk group to avail diagnostic facilities and required medical treatment were also among the initiatives taken by PAEC this year.