Should Import Policy Order Be Amended to Make Pakistan an Environmentally Sustainable Country

Abstract

Since the invention of the first practical ICL in 1879 by Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan, the significant improvements and inventions in different types of bulbs and their efficiencies are offered in the market. Today, these lamps or lights have become our need and offer efficient lighting. These lights can also be employed in battery, mobiles or generators.  The working and use of these lights are different from each other. To conserve energy, we ought to select an efficient light bulb, which is capable of providing the type of lighting needed. The choices are ICLs, CFLs, Halogen Lamps, Neon Lamps, Metal Halide Lamps, Fluorescent Tube, high-intensity discharge lamps and low pressure sodium lamps, and above all LED lights but their effects on health, environment, wildlife, marine life & plants and especially their post-use disposal have not been sufficiently assessed yet. This report was developed considering that point of view that how these lights are affecting our environment and causing degradation with a special focus on disposal problem of CFL.  The paper was divided into two sections, critical analysis and conclusions / Recommendations. In the first section, I tried my best to throw academic light on general problems of recycling of materials and their impact on the environment and other factors like Technology Vs Climate Change, Technological Advancement and Opportunity Cost, Electronic Innovations and its Impact on Climate Change, and Plastic use and Climate Change. However, some other factors were discussed, especially related to import policy in the second section like Import of Raw Materials and Basel Convention, Mercury and Minamata Convention, Impact of CFL and ICL on Environment, Some Hazards, Recycling of CFL and ICL and their mutual comparison. The last part was about discussing the S.D.Gs and Lights Pollution, Pros and Cons of light pollution and Responsibility of Manufacturers. The report has drawn valuable conclusions for policy makers which include measuring quantum of hazardous Mercury metal which needs safe disposal in near future, potential of energy conservation if replaced with LED and cost of investment which could have been/can be avoided. This report also has some implementable recommendations to overcome this problem with a special focus on amendment in Import Policy Order suggesting a ban on commercial import of mercury lamps and tubes.