Basel Convention
Country Fact Sheet
2002
2006
Pakistan
Status of Ratifications:
Party to the Basel Convention:
Amendment to the Basel Convention:
Basel protocol on Liability and Compensation:
26.07.1994 (a)
-
(Accession (a); Acceptance (A); Approval (AA); Formal confirmation (c); Ratification; Succession (d))
Competent Authority
Director General
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency
(Pak-EPA)
Ministry of Environment
311 Nazim-u-din Road
Sector F-11/1
Islamabad
Pakistan
Telephone:(92 51) 926 66 91
Telefax: (92 51) 926 76 25/2
E-Mail: pak-epa@isb.compol.com
National
Definition
Focal Point
Director General
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency
(Pak-EPA)
Ministry of Environment
311 Nazim-u-din Road
Sector F-11/1
Islamabad
Pakistan
Telephone:(92 51) 926 66 91
Telefax: (92 51) 926 76 25/2
E-Mail: pak-epa@isb.compol.com
National definition of waste used for the purpose of transboundary
movements of waste exists in Pakistan.
According to Pakistan Environmental Protection Act - 1997, "waste"
means any substance or object which has been, is being or is intended to
be, discarded or disposed of, and includes liquid waste, solid waste,
waste gases, suspended waste, industrial waste, agricultural waste,
nuclear waste, municipal waste, hospital waste, used polyethylene bags
and residues from the incineration of all types of waste.
National definition of hazardous waste used for the purpose of
transboundary movements of waste exists in Pakistan.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 defines "Hazardous waste"
as waste which is or which contains a hazardous substance, and includes
hospital waste and nuclear waste.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 defines " Hazardous
substance" as (a) a substance or mixture of substance, other than a
pesticide as defined in the Agricultural Pesticide Ordinance, 1971 (II of
1971), which, by reason of its chemical activity is toxic, explosive,
flammable, corrosive, radioactive or other characteristics causes, or is
likely to cause, directly or in combination with other matters, an adverse
environmental effect; and (b) any substance which may be prescribed as
a hazardous substance.
There are no wastes defined as, or considered to be hazardous wastes by
national legislation in accordance with Art. 1, para 1(b) of the Basel
Convention.
In Pakistan there are no wastes other than those pursuant to Art. 1 (1)a
and/or Art. 1 (1)b of the Basel Convention that require special
consideration when subjected to transboundary movement.
Restrictions on Amendment to the Basel Convention
Transboundary The amendment to the Basel Convention (Decision III/1) has not been
implemented in Pakistan.
Movement
Restrictions on export for final disposal
Pakistan restricts the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for
final disposal.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act - 1997.
The restriction covers all countries.
According to Section 14 (Handling of Hazardous Substances) of
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act - 1997 "subject to the provisions
of this Act, no person shall generate, collect, consign, transport, treat,
dispose of, store, handle or import any hazardous substance except; (a)
under a license issued by the Federal Agency and in such manner as may
be prescribed; or (b) in accordance with the provisions of any other law
for the time being in force, or of any international treaty, convention,
protocol, code, standard, agreement or other instrument to which
Pakistan is a party."
Restrictions on export for recovery
Pakistan restricts the export of hazardous wastes and other wastes for
recovery.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act - 1997.
The restriction covers all countries.
According to Section 14 (Handling of Hazardous Substances) of
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act - 1997 "subject to the provisions
of this Act, no person shall generate, collect, consign, transport, treat,
dispose of, store, handle or import any hazardous substance except; (a)
under a license issued by the Federal Agency and in such manner as may
be prescribed; or (b) in accordance with the provisions of any other law
for the time being in force, or of any international treaty, convention,
protocol, code, standard, agreement or other instrument to which
Pakistan is a party."
Restrictions on import for final disposal
Pakistan restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for
final disposal.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act,1997.
Import Policy Order, 2006 issued by Ministry of Commerce.
The restriction covers all countries.
According to section 13 (Prohibition of Import of Hazardous Waste) of
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act - 1997, "No person shall import
hazardous waste into Pakistan and its territorial waters, Exclusive
Economic Zone and historic water."
Import Trade and Procedure Order 2000, inter-alia, also bans import of
hazardous wastes as defined as classified in Basel Convention except
where import is specifically authorized by the Government of Pakistan.
As the Government of Pakistan has also prepared a national Profile on
Chemical Management in Pakistan - 2000 to provide information on
registered hazardous chemicals being imported or produced locally. In
addition, the mechanism of Prior Informed Consent (PIC) is being
strengthened to monitor inflow of hazardous substances into Pakistan in
accordance with UNEP/London guidelines.
Restrictions on import for recovery
Pakistan restricts the import of hazardous wastes and other wastes for
recovery.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997.
Import Policy Order 2006 issued by Ministry of Commerce.
The restriction covers all countries.
According to section 13 (Prohibition of Import of Hazardous Waste) of
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act - 1997, "No person shall import
hazardous waste into Pakistan and its territorial waters, Exclusive
Economic Zone and historic waters".
Import, Trade and Procedure Order, 2000, inter-alia, also bans import of
hazardous wastes as defined and classified in Basel Convention except
where import is specifically authorized by the Federal Government.
3) Pakistan has also prepared a national Profile on Chemical
Management in Pakistan - 2000 to provide information on registered
hazardous chemicals being imported or produced locally.
4) In addition, the mechanism of Prior Informed Consent (PIC) is being
strengthened to monitor inflow of hazardous substances into Pakistan in
accordance with UNEP/London guidelines.
Restrictions on transit
Pakistan restricts the transit of hazardous wastes and other wastes.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997.
The restriction covers all countries.
According to Section 14 (Handling of Hazardous Substances) of
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act - 1997 "subject to the provisions
of this Act, no person shall generate, collect, consign, transport, treat,
dispose of, store handle or import any hazardous substances except; (a)
under a license issued by the Federal Agency and in such manner as may
be prescribed; or (b) in accordance with the provisions of any law for the
time being in force, or of any international treaty, convention, protocol,
code, standard, agreement or other instrument to which Pakistan is a
party."
Reduction
and/or
Elimination of
Hazardous
Waste
Generation
National strategies/policies
Formulation and implementation of National Conservation Strategy and
National Environmental Action Plan, National Cleaner Production
Centres n various sectors.
Legislation, regulations and guidelines
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997; Self Monitoring and
Reporting Rules-1998; Industrial Pollution charge (Calculations and
Collection Rules)-1998; Draft Hazardous Substances Rules-2007;
Revised National Environmental Quality Standards-2000; Import Policy
Order – 2006 issued by Ministry of Commerce; and Draft Hospital
Waste Management Rules-2005.
Economic instruments/ initiatives
The Government has reduced import duty on pollution abatement
equipment from 30% to 10%.
Measures taken by industries/waste generators
Federation of Pakistan Chambers and Commerce has included
environment services as one of its principal function and also established
its Standing Committee on Environment;
A number of Industrial Sectors/units have established environment cells;
Pakistan Tanners Association contributed about 28% of the total cost of
construction of Korangi Combined Effluent Treatment Plant in Karachi;
Local Tanneries Associations inKasur have contributed about 54% of
the total cost of construction of Kasur Tanneries Pollution Control
Project;
Other industry-supported initiatives include Environmental Technology
Program for Industry, National cleaner Production Center for fuels and
Clean Production Program; and
A number of hospitals have installed incinerators for disposal of
infectious waste.
Transboundary
Movement
Reduction
Measures
National strategies/policies
Formulation and implementation of National Conservation Strategy and
National Environmental Action Plan.
Disposal/
Recovery
Facilities
Disposal facilities
- Kasur Tannery Pollution Control Project, Delapur Road, Kasur.;
Commonh effluent waste water treatment plant. Solid waste disposal
facility.; 12700m3.
Legislation, regulations and guidelines
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997; and Import Policy Order,
2006 issued by Ministry of Commerce.
Recovery/recycling/re-use facilities
- Chrome Recovery Plant, KTWMA, Kasur; Chrome Recovery Plant,
10000 litres.
- Cleaner Production Center, Sialkot; Chrome Recovery Plant; 9000
litres.
A few industries have installed recovery plants especially for chromium
recovery. An inventory of such facilities, however, is not available.
Bilateral,
Multilateral or
Regional
Agreements
- No agreements
Technical
Assistance and
Training
Available
- Fatima Jinnah Women University, The Mall, Rawalpindi, Ph. 0519270050, Fax 051-9271168
- National University of Science & Technology (NUST), Institute of
Environmental Science & Engineering (IESE), Tamizuddin Road,
Lalkurti, Rawalpindi, Ph. 051-9271577, Fax 051-9271597
- Department of Chemistry, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Ph.
051-9219811
- College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam
Campus (New Campus)University of Punjab, P.O. Box No. 54590,
Lahore, Ph. 042-9231272, Fax 042-9231103
- Institute of Environmental Engineering and Research, University of
Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Ph. 042-6829248 / 6829252,
Fax 042-6822655
Further information could be obtained from:
Ministry of Environment, ENERCON Building, G-5/2, Islamabad
44000, Pakistan.
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, #311, Main Margalla Road,
F-11/3, Islamabad.
Data on the Generation and Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and Other wastes in 2006 (as reported)
Generation
Export
Import
Amount of hazardous wastes generated under Art. 1(1)a
(Annex I: Y1-Y45) of BC
Amount of hazardous wastes generated under Art. 1(1)b of BC
Total amount of hazardous wastes generated
Amount of other wastes generated (Annex II: Y46-Y47)
Amount of hazardous wastes exported
Amount of other wastes exported
Amount of hazardous wastes imported
Amount of other wastes imported
Quantities
(in metric
tons)
Not reported
Not reported
Not reported
Not reported
Not reported
Not reported
Not reported
Not reported