THAT a study by a British university has found the Ravi that flows through Lahore and other cities of Punjab to be among the world’s three most polluted rivers is hardly surprising. Nevertheless, the detection of vast amounts of active pharmaceutical ingredients or APIs, emitted during their manufacture, use and disposal into the river is extremely distressing. The study has found pharmaceutical particles including paracetamol, nicotine, caffeine and epilepsy and diabetes drugs in the river. The study conducted in 104 countries across the globe has detected the highest concentration of pharmaceutical pollution in the Ravi flowing through Lahore. This finding underscores the deteriorating quality of life for the city’s over 11m residents. It is important to point out here that the provincial metropolis has consistently topped the list of world cities most affected by the winter air pollution. The Ravi did not become the environmentalists’ worst nightmare overnight. Decades of unchecked discharge of untreated municipal and industrial wastewater, as well as solid waste along its banks, has virtually changed its definition: it would be more appropriate to call it a massive sewer than a life-sustaining river.

A commission set up by the Lahore High Court in 2012 had reported that 1,200-1,400 small to large industrial units were dumping their chemical and medical waste into the river. On top of that, India too has been diverting a large quantity of untreated toxic waste water into the river through the Hudiyara drain. The commission had recommended the imposition of heavy fines on the polluters and the construction of plants to treat urban and industrial waste water before the latter is discharged into the river. Unfortunately, no action has been taken since. The current government, that counts the conservation of the environment among its top priorities, says it plans to rescue the river by installing water treatment plants. But these plans hinge on the progress of its multibillion-dollar project to build a new Dubai-style city for the wealthy elite, which, environmentalists insist, will increase pollution rather than reduce it. The prime minister claims that the new Ravi city project will save the river. The question is why do plans to save the river have to be linked to this project? The discovery of substantial pharmaceutical pollution in and around the river basin demands immediate action by the government. It must clean up the river whether or not its controversial riverfront city project makes headway.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2022