As a developing country, Pakistan is facing many issues. But the main issues are economic and environmental. These hinderthe growth of Pakistan. By adopting sustainability, Pakistan can resolve these problems to some extent. It can promote a sustainable and green lifestyle. This article will shed light on the challenges and opportunities of sustainable living in Pakistan and the future of sustainable lifestyle in Pakistan.

Understanding Sustainable Living

Defining Sustainable Living: Sustainable living means focusing on a lifestyle in which individuals consume few resources for their daily life activities, minimizing carbon footprints, and protecting the environment to make it favorable for future generations to live in. According to the United Nations,sustainable living is reshapingour lifestyle of what we buy and consume. It also includes reorganizing our everyday lives and changing the way,we develop ourselves, interact,and share information.

Why Sustainable Living Matters:

Many reasons explain why sustainable living is important and the need of the hour.

  • Individuals can become cost-effective through less energy consumption and water usage, no food wastage, and fuel consumption. For example, using solar energy, and public transportation.
  • Sustainability brings good health through fresh air, eating organic food, and doing healthy exercise.
  • We can save our environment by stopping the use of plastic products and releasing harmful chemicals in water bodies, reducing our carbon footprint to stabilizethe climate of the earth.
  • Sustainable lifestyles make the earth a healthy and favorableplace for our future generations.  We can also save resources for them.  So, they can live their lives comfortably in the future.

Environmental Challenges in Pakistan

  • Community-Led Sustainability Projects
  1. Orangi Pilot Project (OPP):In Karachi, the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) was started in 1980 to improve the sanitation condition of Orangi Township. Through community-government collaborations, in addition to sanitation programs, it also other initiatives like housing, savings, disaster relief, rehabilitation, health, and education, not just in Karachi but throughout Pakistan.
  2. Yasmeen Lari’ s Heritage Foundation:Since the earthquakes of 2005, Yasmeen Lari’ s Heritage Foundation has been assisting affected communities. It has constructed thousands of inexpensive, waste-free, carbon-neutral home and climate-responsive infrastructure.
  • Corporate Sustainability Efforts:
  1. Nestlé Pakistan: Nestlé Pakistan is using water efficiently by recycling water and managing waste water.During the production of dry milk, water evaporated is used to cut down on the use of fresh water.
  2. Nishat Apparel: Nishat Apparel builds a waste water treatment plant. The processes include screening, equalization, biological treatment, a filtration system, and sludge de-watering. This program protects water bodies.

Opportunities for Sustainable Living

  • Renewable Energy Potential: Pakistan can fulfill its energy demand from renewable and sustainable energy at low cost without harming the environment.
    • Solar energyis found in the Baluchistan province in the southwest and the northeastern Sindh region, both of which receive between 7 and 8 hours of daily sunshine.
    • Wind power is present in the southern and coastal regions of Sindh and Baluchistan provinces.
    • Hydropowerhas potential in Pakistan’s northern region.
    • Geothermal reservoirslike hot springs with temperatures between 30 and 170 °C have been foundIn the region of Karachi and Pakistan’s Himalayas.
    • Biomass energy potential in the form of municipal solid waste (MSW) and agricultural solid waste is abundant in Pakistan.
    • Green Transportation: Pakistan’s logistics system is not functioning properly which costs 4 % to 6 % of GDP. In this situation, sustainable transportation will benefit both the economy and the environment.Use of green and sustainable fuels like bio-CNG instead of fossil fuels. Solar transportation, hydrogen fuel cells, and hybrid electric vehicles can be introduced in Pakistan as green transportation. Import of electric vehicles from China can be a good initiative.The government can also promote the use of cycles and eco-friendly public transport.
  • Sustainable Agriculture: In Pakistan,to increase net agriculture input and overcome food shortage, sustainable agriculture is a good choice. Organic Farming, the use of modern technology, a good variety of seeds, effective use of water, crop rotation, and soil health maintenance are the practices that can promote green agriculture. Educating farmers about sustainable agriculture is important.

Case Studies: Sustainable Initiatives

  • Community-Led Sustainability Projects
  1. Orangi Pilot Project (OPP):In Karachi, the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) was started in 1980 to improve the sanitation condition of Orangi Township. Through community-government collaborations, in addition to sanitation programs, it also other initiatives like housing, savings, disaster relief, rehabilitation, health, and education, not just in Karachi but throughout Pakistan.
  2. Yasmeen Lari’ s Heritage Foundation: Since the earthquakes of 2005, Yasmeen Lari’ s Heritage Foundation has been assisting affected communities. It has constructed thousands of inexpensive, waste-free, carbon-neutral homesand climate-responsive infrastructure.
  • Corporate Sustainability Efforts:‘
  1. Nestlé Pakistan: Nestlé Pakistan is using water efficiently by recycling water and managing waste water. During the production of dry milk, water evaporated is used to cut down on the use of fresh water.
  2. Nishat Apparel: Nishat Apparel builds a waste water treatment plant. The processes include screening, equalization, biological treatment, a filtration system, and sludge de-watering. This program protects water bodies.

The Future of Sustainable Living in Pakistan

  • Policy and Regulatory Developments:
  1. Pakistan’s National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) was created in 2012 and made active in 2013. The policy places a strong emphasis on the development of industries like forestry, agriculture, transportation, human health, and energy.
  2. The Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy was formulated in 2019. It invests in renewable resources. The main objectives of this policy are to preserve the environment by increasing the proportion of green energy in the total energy mix and producing low-cost power.
  • Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles: if we want to live a good, cost-effective, and healthy lifestyle, then we must adopt sustainable lifestyles. Give awareness and education about sustainability in schools and universities. Practices like the use of green transport, sustainable food,sustainable appliances, proper waste management, water saving, planting trees, and sustainable shopping will promote sustainable living.
  • Challenges Ahead:Political instability, corruption, lack of accountability, low funds, lack of awareness, resistance to change, large population, unequal distribution of wealth and resources, and old technology will become challenges for Pakistan in sustainable lifestyle adaptation.

Conclusion:

A sustainable lifestyle has potential in Pakistan.it is facing challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and waste management issues. However, Pakistan has opportunities for sustainability like renewable energy, green transportation, and sustainable agriculture if used properly. The future of sustainable life-styles in Pakistan has obstacles, but if handled efficiently, can become successful.

This article is written by Tehreem ishfaq who is intern at Perspective.pk.

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