Page 66 - CMA Journal (Nov-Dec 2025)

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Green Pakistan

Since time immemorial, humans have remained in life on the planet. It is
pursuit of happiness by way of material possession, the excessive accretion
knowledge, comforts, moral values, and freedom. In of greenhouse gases
quest of all these, human beings have adopted different that harms the earth.
paths. Some even followed ways that undermined the Pakistan’s
rights of others. With the advent of industrialization, the Sufferings –
longing for material possession took the lead over other A country which
causes of life. The shift from an agrarian and labour-based contributes less than
economy to mechanized manufacturing through techno- one percent to global
logical innovations and gradual urbanization brought greenhouse emissions
about economic expansion, rise in living standards, and is carrying the brunt of
global development. Such industrialization originally
it and confronting
started during the late 18th century. The Industrial Revo- significant domestic
lution brought economic growth together with interfer-
environmental
ence in nature, its neat and clean atmosphere showing challenges through Syed Shamim Ahmed, FCMA
signs of pollution, adversely affecting human health Former General Manager Finance
fossil fuel usage,
initially, but unchecked contamination developed into a industrial waste, Karachi Port Trust (KPT)
disastrous situation through air, water, and land pollu- deforestation, and
tion. This raised awareness and concern for the protec-
water
tion of the environment.
mismanagement. Pakistan is the 5th most climate-
The concept of Green Economy and Sustainability was affected country. It faced huge floods during 2022, which
conceived sometime back in the 19th Century. London killed 1,700 people, resulted in the loss of 6,500 livestock,
smog during December 1952, which killed nearly 12,000 and displaced 2 million people, with an overall economic
people, shocked the world into the seriousness of loss of over USD 30 billion. Again, during 2025, heavy
protecting the habitat through sustainable development monsoon floods took 1,000 lives and rendered over a
as an international goal, and the United Nations million people homeless. On the other hand, some big
Environment Programme (UNEP) was established in 1972 cities of the country face serious issues of dense smog
to monitor the global environment and assist nations in every winter, which is worsening with every passing year,
facing challenges under the slogan “Who Cares Wins”. leading to hazards and restricting people’s mobility.
During the UN General Assembly in 2008, the term Green Traffic pollution, industrial smoke, and crop burning are
Economy was officially adopted as a guideline to protect also making air pollution worse. With such a level of
the environment necessary for sustainability. impurity, Karachi and Lahore remain among the top most
Greenhouse Gases — The phenomenon occurs when polluted cities at the international level.
various gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous Deforestation – Deforestation is yet another critical
oxide, etc., produced through industrial smoke, traffic issue causing floods and soil erosion, bringing forest
pollution, crop burning, and fossil fuel usage remain coverage to less than 4%, an alarming level. Water
suspended in the atmosphere and trap the sun’s heat, scarcity due to poor conservation, combined with
warming the earth and increasing the concentration of industrial effluents and untreated sewage, along with
these gases, thereby disturbing the natural system. It is poor solid waste management, has deteriorated the
like a building with a glass roof and walls to grow plants atmosphere. With every passing year, the country faces
under a controlled warmer environment, where heat is water scarcity, when water availability per year is 940
trapped in very cold weather. On the other hand, cubic meters per head (2024) and may reach an absolute
complete absence of greenhouse gases would reduce water scarcity level of 500 cubic meters per head by the
the earth’s temperature, freezing seas, lakes, and air end of 2025 if present water conservation modes persist.
vapors, again harming the environment. Therefore, a Climate Finance – Pakistan initiated a National
certain amount of natural greenhouse gases is necessary,
Strategy and Approach during November 2024 to deploy
as their presence through natural occurrence is crucial for resources for climate improvement.

ICMA’s Chartered Management Accountant, Nov-Dec 2025