Environmental experts and academia urged elected local government representatives to raise awareness among communities against persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and make necessary laws at local levels.
Speaking at a workshop, organized by SDPI for local government representatives on the eve of Earth Day and the global day of action against POPs, experts said these chemical substances persist in the environment and the human body up to 40 years.
Experts were also concerned about smuggling of banned chemicals in Pakistan, which are the major cause of encouraging POPs use.
The workshop recommended ban on open dump burning, use of DDT and household pesticides, control on leakage of electricity transformers, consideration of alternative technology along with incineration for waste disposal and ratification of the Stockholm Convention 2001 on POPs.
Elected representatives from various union councils of Rawalpindi participated in the workshop. They inquired how a local government can play its role to eliminate POPs. Councilors were also asked to take initiatives to raise POPs awareness among communities.
Welcoming the participants, Dr Abid Suleri, of SDPI, said the local governments are custodians of the environment at community level. “They have the basic responsibility to take up pollution issues at their respective unions, tehsil and district councils through legislation,” he said.
Dr Mahmood A Khwaja, of SDPI, told the participants that POPs are rapidly spreading around Gujranwala and Gujrat areas. Women cotton pickers face serious health threats as breast cancer has been reported among them due to inhaling of pesticides used on the crops. He said POPs have direct link with humans and wildlife due to breathing contaminated air, eating contaminated food and drinking and washing in contaminated water.
Dr Khwaja said the government should ratify the Stockholm Convention. “There is a need to identify and quantify POPs in the country, review national laws and policies, development of an effective plan against elimination of POPs and providing opportunities for public participation at all levels for giving inputs on the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on POPs .”
Dr Nauman Fazal Qadir, from Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency/UNDP, informed the participants about the policy issues regarding POPs. He said the review of the national legislation concerning all aspects of POPs management in Pakistan, including enforcement and recommendations, is required. “Planning and implementation of awareness raising campaigns on POPs and other chemical safety and management issues should be incorporated in the policy.”
Qadir said POPs elimination should be the top environmental priority, because POPs can remain in the human body up to 40 years. “Research analyses have proved that the volume of POPs in the waste forms is an alarming situation in Pakistan.”
Tahir Husnain, of WTO Watch Group, informed the participants in detail about the possible impacts of POPs on agriculture. He said that due to heavy use of agriculture pesticides, lands are rapidly heading towards infertility, and POPs use is one of the major reasons.
He said the districts governments can play a vital role in stopping the use of banned pesticides by devising local level policies.
Concluding the workshop, the chief guest, Dr Ishtiaq Qazi, of the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), appreciated the efforts of SDPI for choosing local government representatives for discussing the issue of POPs.
“Local government representatives must come forward to implement POPs-free environment plans and legislation should be developed on priority basis, if so required.”
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