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In the midst of a severe economic crisis, Pakistan has another headache to deal with. The Islamabad Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change was shocked to learn that the country was importing waste from countries including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy and Saudi Arabia, Express report.
According to the site, the Senate panel was confused when it saw the names of some friendly countries as well as those that expressed concerns about climate change.
“Why has Pakistan never opposed the import of waste,” a committee member asked, questioning why embassies, ministries, relevant departments and provincial and federal governments never tried to stop it.
Interestingly, most senators admit that they don’t even know that Pakistan has become a dumping ground for most developed countries. Some senators wondered why Pakistan does not export waste, adding that the streets of cities are littered with both toxic and non-toxic waste.
“Import waste Na Manzoor,” said Faisal Javed, Pakistan’s Tehreek-i-Insaaf Senator, citing his party chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan’s account of the country being ruled by an “imported government.”
During the meeting, it was revealed that most of the imported waste is dumped at sea and in major cities while the goods are being transported.
A week ago, Pakistan’s cabinet was informed that the country generates 30 million tons of waste each year, in addition to importing 80,000 tons of bales from around the world each year, which has caused environmental and health problems.
Pakistan has been battling the worst inflation as it is about to receive an IMF bailout. According to data from Sheikh Baz Sharif’s government, consumer prices rose 21.32 percent last month, Bloomberg reported.
That compares with a median estimate of a 17.9% increase in a Bloomberg survey of economists and a 13.8% increase in May, the Bloomberg report said.
Inflation in June was the highest in 13 years, said Mohammed Sohail, chief executive of Topline Securities, adding that prices will start to fall in the next four to five months.
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