Environmental profile of North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan

This environmental profile of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) outlines its natural resources base, the interaction between the environment and the human factor, an analysis of the main environmental issues, an institutional overview and a proposal for more effective environmental management. Population pressure, poor social and economic conditions, as well as a serious lack of attention to developing sustainable resource use systems have exerted an enormous strain on the natural resource base of the NWFP. Indiscriminate deforestation on mountain and hillsides, overuse of natural resources and overgrazing have led to serious problems such as massive erosion, silting of reservoirs, the lowering of the groundwater table, waterlogging and soil salinity. This is compounded by the virtual absence of sewerage facilities in the NWFP. There is a lack of political will to formulate and enforce the existing legislation on natural resource management, air pollution and industrial pollution. As a result, untreated effluent is often dumped into rivers and on open land. NWFP's badly polluted drinking water and air have a detrimental effect on both human and animal health. This document highlights the critical environmental issues for the Province and is designed to assist as a reference and planning guide. The authors are careful to add, however, that the document is not intended to specify an action plan or recommend a cure for NWFP's environmental problems. Instead, it is meant to give an analytical assessment which points to the current situation so that policy makers can infer their own action plan and recommendations.