- By: Prof. Dr. Engr. Sahar Noor
- UET Peshawar
Nowadays, sustainability is a topic discussed almost everywhere. It is simply defined as “the quality of being environmentally friendly or the judicious use of natural resources to support long-term ecological balance.” Most organizations agree that the philosophy of sustainability is good in theory, but they consider its practicality a challenge. True—this challenge exists mainly for those who have developed unsustainable habits and practices over time, promoting a culture centered on misleading values such as “increased rate of return,” “higher net income,” and “greater profit.” Such individuals and organizations have become addicted to these values and find it difficult to think beyond greed.
Everyone agrees that “greed is a curse,” “selfishness is bad,” and “the accumulation of wealth in a few hands is harmful.” Unfortunately, the prevailing global economic system is built upon these very negative principles, which can never lead to genuine happiness or prosperity. This system continues to make the poor poorer and the rich richer. The gap between the needs of the poor and the greed of the rich is widening. While the poor struggle for survival, the rich employ all possible means to sustain the same exploitative system. The outcome is widespread dissatisfaction, unhappiness, frustration, and social unrest.
Ironically, the rich pursue wealth and power in the name of achieving “happiness,” “peace of mind,” and “service to humanity,” yet they fail to attain any of these. Their actions may appear altruistic, but in reality, they often harm humanity while protecting their own interests. For example, how can the oil and gas exploration industry claim to be “sustainable” or “serving humanity” when its operations benefit a small segment of society but cause environmental and social harm to many others? These industries often maximize profit through non-sustainable, non-green, and unethical practices. The same applies to many other organizations that, knowingly or unknowingly, engage in activities detrimental to society. The situation is even worse for industries that openly harm humanity—such as arms manufacturers, tobacco companies, and alcohol producers—without even pretending to serve the common good.
It is, however, encouraging that some wealthy individuals have begun to realize that the accumulation of money does not bring true happiness. Many have turned toward philanthropy in search of inner peace, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose. Although such efforts provide temporary comfort, sustainable happiness lies in being friendly to both nature and humanity. This mindset should be viewed as the highest form of charity.
In essence, there is a simple truth: sustainability and happiness coexist in harmony with nature. Nature has already defined its own set of “dos” and “don’ts.” Any deviation from these principles leads to unsustainability—an irreversible path that cannot be corrected once the damage is done. Therefore, there is a pressing need for continuous thinking and action toward sustainability from the very beginning of any project or activity to ensure lasting peace, satisfaction, and fulfillment. Scientists and professionals must work diligently to identify, define and update these “dos” and “don’ts” for each sector of the economy, while legislators must fulfill their responsibilities with integrity to safeguard humanity and the planet.
Pakistan, being a growing economy rich in natural resources, has immense potential. The prudent exploitation of these resources can significantly boost our economy, but only if sustainability issues are taken seriously to prevent future disasters. The exploration of oil, gas, uranium, gypsum, and other minerals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa plays a crucial role in national development, yet it often causes harm to local communities and ecosystems.
There is no choice but to utilize our untapped mineral wealth—but it must be done responsibly. The state must ensure that exploration and development are not pursued at the cost of local livelihoods or environmental degradation.
It is therefore imperative to address sustainability concerns at the earliest stage of every exploration project, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to ensure that our actions remain environmentally and socially responsible. Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) and similar organizations should collaborate closely with academia and industry to develop sustainability frameworks for all sectors, including mineral exploration. Universities and local chapters of professional bodies such as IIE, ASME, and IEEE should take the lead in coordinating and supporting initiatives that promote sustainable products, processes, and systems. Such efforts will stimulate purpose-driven, multidisciplinary research in Pakistan and lay the foundation for a truly green and blue economy.