INTEGRATION OF EIA IN PROPOSING STRATEGIC MITIGATION MEASURES TO REDUCE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF MINING IN PAKISTAN IN 2025

Mining is a critical sector for Pakistan's economic development, providing essential resources and contributing significantly to GDP. However, mining activities also pose substantial environmental and socio-economic challenges. This Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) evaluates the environmental impacts of mining in Pakistan and proposes actionable mitigation measures to promote sustainable practices. The EIA process has identified several significant environmental impacts associated with mining activities in Pakistan, which vary in severity depending on the type and scale of the operation. One of the primary concerns is air pollution, where mining operations contribute to the degradation of air quality, primarily due to dust emissions and gaseous pollutants. Areas near large-scale operations, such as coal mines in Thar, experience elevated levels of particulate matter, posing health risks to local populations. Water pollution is another major issue, with the discharge of untreated wastewater, especially from coal and marble mining in regions like Balochistan, leading to contamination of nearby water bodies with heavy metals and acid mine drainage (AMD). Soil degradation is also prevalent, as mining activities, particularly those involving surface mining, result in the loss of topsoil, erosion, and degradation of agricultural land. Biodiversity losshas been noted as a significant consequence of habitat destruction and fragmentation, leading to the decline of species in affected areas, such as the loss of forest cover and disruption of wildlife corridors in provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Lastly, socio-economic impacts, including the displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods, and disruption of local economies, have been raised during public consultations. These impacts have led to increased socio-economic inequalities in some mining regions, highlighting the need for mitigation and sustainable practices