25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee Publication

430 Pages·2017·11.2 MB·English

by  Adnan Hassan

Policy Briefs for Sustainable Development in Pakistan

25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee Publication

Policy Briefs for
Sustainable Development in Pakistan

Updated and Compiled By
Mahmood A. Khwaja, Umm-e-Mariya Shah and Adnan Hassan

Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
Islamabad- Pakistan
www.sdpi.org

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Policy Briefs for Sustainable Development in Pakistan
August, 2017
ISBN: 978-969-8344-26-9
All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or information storage and
retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.

A publication of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).

The opinions expressed in the papers are solely those of the authors, and publishing them does not in
any way constitute an endorsement of the opinion by SDPI.

Sustainable Development Policy Institute is an independent, non-profit research institute on
sustainable development.

SDPI Mission Statement is “To catalyse the transition towards sustainable development, defined as
the enhancement of peace, social justice and well-being, within and across generations.”

© 2017 by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute

Mailing Address: PO Box 2342, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Telephone ++ (92-51) 2278134, 2278136, 2277146, 2270674-76
Fax ++(92-51) 2278135, URL: www.sdpi.org
Email: [email protected]
Policy Briefs for Sustainable Development in Pakistan

Introduction to Second Edition (Revised & Updated)

In order to celebrate the 25th anniversary, SDPI management, in collaboration and with support of
SDPI staff, has planned a number of activities from August, 2017 – July, 2018 (SDPI was established
on August 4, 1992). One such activity is “Silver Jubilee Publications.” “Policy Briefs for Sustainable
Development in Pakistan,” is the first publication of this series.
At SDPI, there are four main series of publication for research which include working papers, research
reports, monographs and policy papers/policy briefs. This Silver Jubilee special publication comprises
policy briefs on issues related to environment (including climate change & hazardous chemicals use),
economy, trade and Governance, written during the last twenty five years by SDPI current and ex-
researchers at SDPI. Earlier the first edition (out of print but soft copy accessible at SDPI website
www.sdpi.org) entitled, “Environment, Trade & Governance for Sustainable Development,” had only
31 policy briefs. It was published in 2012. Meanwhile, another 26 policy briefs were written including
ones on new emerging issues i.e. “Climate Change” and “Hazardous Chemicals” and are included in
this edition. Some of these policy briefs were written on the request of the government of Pakistan.
Most of the policy briefs described in the sections on environment, economy, trade and governance,
with further research work by the same or other SDPI researchers have been converted into full-fledged
papers which are accessible at SDPI website www.sdpi.org
I am very grateful to the members of SDPI research and support staff for their valuable contributions
and assistance in many ways which made possible publication of the 1st. and 2nd editions of policy
briefs written over the last 25 years.
I owe a debt of thanks and sincere appreciation to Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri, Executive Director and Dr.
Vaqar Ahmed, Deputy Executive Director, SDPI for their all time encouragement and support. Special
thanks to Dr. Vaqar Ahmed, Dr. Sajid Amin Javed and Mr. Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, for sparing time
out of their very busy schedule to write introductions to different sections. I may not forget to express
my gratitude to MIS colleagues Ms. Umm-e-Mariya Shah, Mr. Adnan Hassan and Mr. Umair
Mehmood, for their very hard work and contributions to get this publication well on time, Mashallah.
I hope this publication would help in providing guidance and support towards sustainable development
in our beloved country and further research on sustainable development issues, inshallah.
It’s an immense pleasure to dedicate this publication to all SDPI ex- and current colleagues.

Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja,
Senior Adviser, SDPI &
President, International Society of Doctors for Environment (ISDE)
July 14, 2017

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Policy Briefs for Sustainable Development in Pakistan
From the Executive Director’s Desk – First Edition

I feel extremely privileged to be part of SDPI family and being able to celebrate SDPI’s 20th
anniversary. As the theme for 20th anniversary reflects, we are celebrating “20 years of bridging
research policy gaps”. This is easy said than done. In order to effectively harmonize the worlds of
research, policies, and practices, SDPI team has been using various strategies, tools, and techniques.
One of our policy outreach tool is “policy brief”. These peer reviewed solicited briefs on practical
policy issues in the sphere of development. The briefs are written by SDPI regular or affiliated staff
and are meant to provide “Clear Cut” policy outlines which would promote just and sustainable
development.
The current volume is compilation of some of the selected policy briefs written during last 20 years,
mainly on the issues of environment, trade, and governance. The rationale of combining, apparently,
three vast and diversified sectors is very simple. Sustainable Development cannot be achieved
following a linear approach. The issues of sustainable development cannot be resolved by using sectoral
lens. The fact that sustainable development requires addressing of social, economic, and environmental
aspect not only in given time and space but also for future generations and future times, requires a trans-
disciplinary approach and we have tried to follow that approach in this volume.
The readers of this volume would be able to identify cross linkages and cross sectoral references among
these stand alone policy briefs written over a period of two decades. This compilation would also help
the them in assessing how the discussion on sustainable development (in South Asia in general and
Pakistan in particular) evolved since the Earth Summit of 1992 (SDPI was founded in the same year on
August 4). Here it is pertinent to mention that this volume may not help in addressing reader’s queries
on sustainable development in Pakistan. However, our aim is to enable the readers to formulate their
questions better after going through these policy briefs. I would be a very satisfied person if some of
the points raised through these policy briefs inspire the readers to think differently on issues of
sustainable development.
My special gratitude to Ambassador Shafqat Kakakhel, Dr. Saba Gul Khattak, Dr. Mahmood A.Khwaja
and Dr. Vaqar Ahmed for adding value to the compilations through their introductory notes.
Finally, I can’t help thanking the efforts of Ms. Umm-e-Mariya Shah and Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja,
for compiling this volume as part of 20th anniversary celebrations.
Happy reading.

Dr. Abid Qayum Suleri
Executive Director,
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI)
Islamabad. Pakistan
November 16, 2012
Policy Briefs for Sustainable Development in Pakistan

Foreword to First Edition

Since its establishment in 1992, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has tirelessly
pursued its mission "to catalyze Pakistan’s transition towards sustainable development defined as the
enhancement of peace, social justice and well-beings within and across generations". SDPI has made
notable success in the role envisaged for it in the landmark National Conversation Strategy (1989-91)
which has outlined the need for an independent, non-profit organization to secure a source of expertise
for policy analysis and development, policy interventions and policy and program advisory services.
Its research, advocacy advice and capacity building activities, despite financial constraints, have
benefited from competent leadership provided by its former executive director, Dr. Tariq Banuri and
his three able successors, Dr. Shah Rukh Rafi Khan, Dr. Saba Gul Khatttak and the incumbent, Dr.
Abid Qayyum Suleri and dozens of distinguished experts who have served as members of its research
staff.
Policy briefs containing succinct critique of issues and sound advice to the government and civil society
on a range of issues pertaining to sustainable development have been a key feature of SDPI’s
contribution to policy debate and development. The issues addressed include, but are not limited to the
issues of trade, environment and social and economic development. The papers selected for the present
compilation fall in three categories: environment, trade and issues addressing diverse topics. The
environment segment comprises briefs on domestic developments such as the implementation of
national environmental quality standards (NEQS), establishment of sustainable development boards,
the first of their kind in South Asia, the outcome of the 1998 session of the Commission on Sustainable
Development also known as Rio+5… conference and the implementation of UN Commission on
Biological Diversity (UNCBD) signed and ratified by Pakistan in 1992 and 1994 respectively.
The trade section includes exceptionally candid analysis of the global trade discourse from GATT to
the WTO series of negotiations and provides practical advice to the government delegations at the
marathon and acrimonious negotiations for protecting Pakistan’s vital interests.
The section captioned miscellaneous is strikingly rich and speaks to issues such as health care financing,
household water treatment and budget transparency.
We hope that SDPI will continue to serve as a key institution in the dynamic development of Pakistan’s
public policy by providing advice on the sustainable development challenges of Pakistan now and on
the future years and decades.

Shafqat KakaKhel
Former Assistant Secretary General/
Deputy Executive Director,
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)
Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI),
Islamabad, Pakistan
[email protected]
November 16, 2012

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Policy Briefs for Sustainable Development in Pakistan
Table of content
Introduction (Second Edition)
Dr. Mahmood A.Khwaja
From the Executive Director's Desk
Dr. Abid Qayum Suleri
Foreword
Ambassador Shafqat KakaKhel
SECTION A: ENVIRONMENT
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Dr. Mahmood A. Khwaja and Shakeel Ahmad. Ramay, SDPI
A-1. Chemicals Health and Environmental Impacts
1. Poisonous Cosmetics: Regulating mercury containing skin whitening Creams (SWCs) in
Pakistan ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Mahmood A. Khwaja and S. Waqar Ali

2. Regulating Mercury Amalgam Use at Private Dental Clinics in
Pakistan.................................................................................................................................... 17
Mahmood A. Khwaja and S.Waqar Ali
3. Toxic Mercury and Mercury Amalgam Use in Dentistry – the need to review and revise
current BDS curriculum at dental teaching institutions .................................................. 29
Mahmood A. Khwaja and Sadaf Nawaz
4. High Risk of Mercury Exposure to Public Health due to Mercury Amalgam Use in
Dentistry in Pakistan .............................................................................................................. 43
Mahmood A. Khwaja and Maryam Shabbir Abbasi
5. Ban on Non-biodegradable Chemicals in Detergents ....................................................… 49
Mahmood A. Khwaja
6. Pesticide Policy......................................................................................................................... 51
Shahid Zia
A-2. Climate Change
1. Better Water, Better Jobs – Envisioning a Sustainable Pakistan ...................................... 53
Sebastian Gollnow
2. Future Heatwaves in Pakistan under IPCC's AR5 climate change scenario ................... 57
Fahad Saeed and Abid Qaiyum Suleri
3. Climate change and heat-waves: Rural-to-Urban Migration in Pakistan A silent looming
crisis ......................................................................................................................................... 63
Fahad Saeed, Kashif Majeed Salik and Sadia Ishfaq
4. Planning for Floods: Now or Never ......…………………….........................................… 67
Fahad Saeed, Abid Qaiyum Suleri and Kashif Majeed Salik

5. Viable Household Water Treatment Methods ....…………………..............................…. 74
Mome Saleem
A-3 .Sustainable Industrial Development

1. Environmental Challenges and Constraints to Policy issues for Sustainable Industrial
Development in Pakistan ...….…………………………………………………….....…… 83
Mahmood A. Khwaja

2. A Legally Binding Agreement (LBA) - Growing Need for Air Pollution Reduction and
Control in South Asia .................…………………………………..................................... 89
Mahmood A.Khwaja and Faisal Haq Shaheen
3. Present Status of Implementation of Self-Monitoring and Reporting Program/SMART
for Industry .......………………………………................................................................... 94
Mahmood A. Khwaja
4. Present Status of Pollution Charge and Finalization of Rules .........……..................... 102
Mahmood A. Khwaja
5. Financial Incentives to Industry .....……………..........................................................… 108
Abdul Matin Khan
6. Establishment of Provincial Sustainable Development Funds ......…………................ 112
Abdul Matin Khan
7. Brief on Environmental Legislation in Pakistan ........………………….....................… 119
Abdul Matin Khan

8. Implementation of Convention on Biological Diversity in Pakistan ........….................... 123
Tahir Hasnain
9. High Level Segment of the 6th Session of the Commission
on Sustainable Development …………………………………………....…………........... 127
Adil Najam
SECTION B: ECONOMY AND TRADE
B-1: Economy
Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 133
Dr. Sajid Amin Javed, SDPI
1. Pakistan Highly Taxed Telecom Market: Fallout and Impact ........……………......… 136
Brig (Retd.) Mohammad Yasin