Although the government of Pakistan has drawn up plans to fight against pollution, especially industrial contamination of air, land and water, the results achieved so far are far from encouraging. The failure to control pollution is generally attributed to a lack of concern and awareness among those who are spoiling the ecological balance, and lack of funds for adopting anti-pollution measures. However, a number of steps which could be taken are:

• Contamination caused by industries, either in the form of smoke-emitting chimneys or unplanned drainage of effluents onto open grounds, or into drains and canals, can be effectively controlled, if an efficient disposal mechanism is enforced.

• The government should facilitate the import of machinery for treating industrial waste.

Pakistan should rely on its own resources to combat pollution of all kinds, and also for creating a better environment, for its people. One of the best safeguards against high pollution, according to experts, is the intensive cultivation of green shady trees, which can protect people from the poisonous effects of gases emitted by machines and faulty engines of vehicles. For restoring the ecological balance, it is essential that a large number of trees are planted. The planting should not be only twice a year, as is currently being done, but every day, every week and every month in fields, parks, hilly areas, along canal banks, roads and in private lawns in order to protect the health and future of our children and grandchildren.

• It should be a matter of concern to everybody as to why industries are allowed to operate in congested localities and why the administration has failed to take action to shift such industries away from the residential areas.

• The laws to check industrial pollution should be strictly enforced and multinational and other companies should not be allowed to dump their industrial waste into Arabian Sea.

• It is essential to educate the people about the hazards of pollution. Environmental Protection Agencies should launch a massive campaign to create awareness among the people.. Similarly NGOs must join hands with government agencies to fight pollution.

The passing of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) 1997, and formulation of (NESQS) National Environmental Quality Standards (NESQS), are some of the measures which have been taken by the government to check environmental pollution.