Navigating Pollution: Rohri’s Struggle for Clean Air and Water

MPollution in Rohri, Sukkur, Sindh, Pakistan: A Tale of Urban and Rural Challenges

Introduction

Rohri, a historic city nestled along the banks of the mighty Indus River, faces a dual battle against pollution. As part of the Sukkur district in Sindh, Pakistan, Rohri grapples with environmental issues that impact both its urban and rural communities. Let's delve into the complexities of pollution in this region.

Urban vs. Rural: A Dichotomy

Urban Areas

1. Karachi – The City of Lights:

Characteristics: Known for its mesmerizing nighttime glow and pristine shoreline, Karachi is a melting pot of cultures, languages, and traditions.

 Language Diversity:While most people speak Sindhi, Seraiki, Thari, and Balochi in rural districts, urban Karachi boasts a linguistic tapestry that includes Urdu, Punjabi, and Pashto.

  Challenges: Despite its vibrancy, Karachi faces significant environmental hurdles. Air pollution, inadequate healthcare facilities, and traffic congestion are pressing concerns.

2. Hyderabad and Khairpur:

 Part of Sindh Urban: These regions exhibit better access to goods, services, and resources. They are hubs of commerce, education, and infrastructure development.

Rural Areas

1. Sindh Rural Districts:

  Badin, Sanghar, Tharparker, and Dadu: These districts epitomize the challenges faced by rural Sindh.

   Resource Deficit: Inadequate medical facilities, high poverty rates, and unemployment plague these areas.

   Healthcare Struggles: Millions of rural dwellers battle health issues, including Hepatitis C and measles. Infant mortality remains a grim reality.

   Education and Development: While some progress has been made in terms of schools, libraries, and roads, development indicators remain stubbornly low.

2. Air Quality in Rohri:

   Unhealthy Air:  Rohri's Air Quality Index (AQI) often registers as unhealthy³. Factors like industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, and dust contribute to this alarming situation.

   Water Quality: Groundwater and surface water quality also warrant attention. Monitoring total coliform, E. coli, and heterotrophic plate count (HPC) levels is crucial⁴.

The Road Ahead

1. Collaboration: Addressing pollution requires collective efforts. Government agencies, NGOs, and citizens must collaborate to improve air and water quality.

2. Sustainable Practices:  Encouraging sustainable practices, promoting green spaces, and investing in clean energy are essential steps.

3. Awareness Campaigns: Educating the public about pollution's impact and advocating for responsible behavior can drive positive change.

References:

Sindh Rural Vs Sindh Urban - Major Differences

Why pollution is so high in Pakistan's cities

Rohri Air Quality Index (AQI) and Pakistan Air Pollution

Drinking water quality in Rohri City, Sindh, Pakistan

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PS Sindh Election: A Battle for Karachi and Rural Sindh

    The provincial assembly election in Sindh, scheduled for July 25, 2023, is expected to be a fierce contest between the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the resurgent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the fractured Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM). The election will also determine the fate of the newly formed PS Sindh Electric, a provincial power regulatory authority that aims to improve energy equity and eliminate energy poverty in the province.

PPP’s stronghold in rural Sindh

The PPP has been ruling Sindh since 2008, and enjoys a strong support base in the rural areas of the province, especially in the districts of Larkana, Dadu, Jamshoro, Thatta, Badin, and Sanghar. The party has 98 seats in the 168-member Sindh Assembly, and is confident of retaining its majority in the upcoming election. The party’s chief minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, has been praised for his development projects and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in the province. The PPP also claims to have empowered the local governments and improved the delivery of public services in Sindh.

However, the PPP also faces several challenges, such as allegations of corruption, nepotism, and misgovernance. The party has been accused of neglecting the urban areas of the province, especially Karachi, the largest and most populous city of Pakistan. The PPP also faces a strong opposition from the PTI, which has emerged as the second largest party in Sindh, with 30 seats in the assembly. The PTI has been campaigning aggressively in the province, highlighting the issues of water scarcity, load shedding, garbage disposal, and law and order. The PTI’s leader, Imran Khan, has also promised to grant more autonomy and funds to the provincial government, if his party wins the election.

MQM’s decline in urban Sindh

The MQM, once the dominant party in the urban areas of Sindh, especially Karachi and Hyderabad, has seen a steep decline in its popularity and influence in the recent years. The party has been marred by internal rifts, defections, and factionalism, following the controversial speech of its founder and leader, Altaf Hussain, in August 2016. The party split into two factions, MQM-Pakistan and MQM-London, with the former led by Farooq Sattar, and the latter by Hussain. The MQM-Pakistan further split into MQM-PIB and MQM-Bahadurabad, over the issue of Senate tickets in 2018. The MQM has also lost many of its supporters and workers to the Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP), a new political party formed by Mustafa Kamal, a former MQM leader and mayor of Karachi, in 2016.

The MQM currently has 21 seats in the Sindh Assembly, down from 51 in 2013. The party faces a tough challenge from the PTI, which has gained popularity in the urban areas of Sindh, especially among the youth and the educated class. The PTI has also formed alliances with some smaller parties, such as the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) and the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), to challenge the MQM’s stronghold in the urban constituencies. The MQM, on the other hand, has been trying to revive its appeal among the Muhajir community, a term used for the Urdu-speaking migrants who settled in Sindh after the partition of India in 1947. The MQM has also been demanding more representation and rights for the Muhajirs, who constitute about 20% of the population of Sindh.

PS Sindh Electric: A game changer?

One of the key issues that may influence the outcome of the PS Sindh election is the establishment of PS Sindh Electric, a provincial power regulatory authority that aims to regulate the generation, transmission, distribution, and tariff of electric power services within the province. The Sindh cabinet approved the formation of PS Sindh Electric in April 2023, after the Sindh Assembly passed a bill for the same in June 2022. PS Sindh Electric is expected to improve the energy situation in the province, which suffers from chronic load shedding, power theft, and high electricity bills. PS Sindh Electric also plans to utilize the renewable and indigenous resources of the province, such as coal, solar, and wind, to generate cheap and clean electricity.

However, PS Sindh Electric also faces several hurdles, such as legal challenges, political opposition, and technical difficulties. The federal government has challenged the legality of PS Sindh Electric, arguing that it violates the constitution and encroaches upon the domain of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), the federal power regulator. The PTI and the MQM have also opposed the creation of PS Sindh Electric, alleging that it is a ploy by the PPP to monopolize the power sector and exploit the consumers. Moreover, PS Sindh Electric also faces the challenge of building the infrastructure and capacity to generate and distribute electricity in the province, which requires huge investments and expertise.

Conclusion

The PS Sindh election is a crucial test for the political parties and the people of Sindh, as it will determine the future direction and development of the province. The election will also reflect the changing dynamics and preferences of the voters, who are faced with multiple issues and choices. The PPP, the PTI, and the MQM are the main contenders in the election, but they also have to contend with the smaller parties, the independent candidates, and the new entrants, such as PS Sindh Electric. The election will also have implications for the national politics and the federal-provincial relations, as Sindh is the second largest and the most diverse province of Pakistan.

2023 Election 

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