ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change has raised serious alarm over mounting environmental and climate risks warning that untreated sewage air pollution and deforestation are pushing the country toward a public health and ecological emergency. The committee met under the chairmanship of Senator Sherry Rehman to review institutional failures undermining climate resilience.

During the meeting Senator Rehman highlighted the unchecked flow of untreated sewage into Rawal Dam deteriorating air quality in major urban centres and accelerated forest loss in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa particularly in Chitral. She warned that fragmented responses and prolonged delays would now face strict parliamentary scrutiny.

Officials informed the committee that tendering for three sewage treatment plants linked to Rawal Dam had only recently begun despite the issue being under discussion for nearly two years. It also emerged that the Capital Development Authority had neither formally sought funds from the planning division nor put interim measures in place to stop sewage discharge into the dam.

Calling the situation alarming Senator Rehman said Rawal Dam was rapidly turning into a breeding ground for bacteria with nearly nine million gallons of sewage entering it daily. She warned of serious risks of waterborne diseases including polio and declared the failure to protect the main drinking water source a public health emergency rather than administrative negligence.

Air pollution was another major concern as environmental protection agencies reported rising pollution from vehicles industries and construction dust. Vehicular emissions were cited as a leading contributor particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. Senator Rehman stressed the absence of reliable mortality data and questioned air quality readings in districts without ground based monitoring systems.

The committee also expressed grave concern over deforestation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa blaming illegal logging policy misuse and timber mafias. Senator Rehman called for urgent forest protection measures alternative energy solutions for vulnerable communities and a dedicated future session on deforestation. She also directed key institutions to develop a coordinated early warning system emphasizing that clean water clean air and protected forests are essential for national resilience.