Environmental Injustice and Public Health in Pakistan: Structural Inequality, Governance Failures, and Community Vulnerability

Abstract

This study explores environmental injustice in Pakistan, by examining how structural inequalities and governance flaws disproportionately expose marginalized and low-income groups to environmental risks. It highlights the immediate and long-term public health impacts of major issues such as industrial pollution, contaminated drinking water, poor waste management, and urban air pollution. The study finds that inadequate regulatory enforcement, uneven development, and political marginalization result in marginalized communities experiencing higher incidences of respiratory diseases, waterborne diseases, and psychological distress. The study uses government data, policy papers, and a few selected case studies to highlight the structural framework of environmental inequality while placing Pakistan within the broader framework of global environmental justice. To reduce health inequalities in Pakistan and advance sustainable development, it argues that addressing environmental injustice requires coordinated policy reforms, increased institutional accountability, and community-based environmental governance.

Keywords: Environmental Injustice, Public Health Inequality, Environmental Governance, Structural Inequality, Marginalized Communities