Problem overview:

     Meeting information requirements: The availability of infrastructure is one indicator of development. In Pakistan, there is a growing demand for electricity and the government is capable of supplying, but is concerned about the impacts on the environment. Weighting between economic efficiency and destruction of the environment is difficult but could not be put aside.

Background in summary:

     The need for additional power plants to cope with the shortage of supply: The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Karachi Electric Supply Corporation (KESC) are the main producers involved in power generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. However, due to delay in the commissioning of large hydroelectric projects and ever rising demand of power in the country, 18 private sector power companies with a net capacity of 3,009 MW were allowed installation of their thermal power generating units in Pakistan. Out of these, five projects have commenced operations and are delivering power to their respective grid stations.

     Additional power plants result in over supply of electricity: From the combined installed capacity in and around the city of Karachi (population 12 million), the total electricity generated would be about 3,985 MW (46 percent of the present installed capacity of WAPDA and KESC thermal power plants). This production level is much more than the electricity demanded by the city of Karachi.

     Excessive power plants generate air pollution exceeding safety level: Even though all thermal power plants to be located in and around Karachi are expected to individually meet the gaseous emissions standards prescribed by the National Environmental Quality Standards, the combined impact of the gaseous emissions from these power plants have not been adequately considered. This is due to non-existence of

• Ambient air quality standards (compared to the end of the pipe standards) in the area and
  
  
• Absence of strategic assessment of air quality at the regional level.
  
  

     Additional information on carrying capacity would help in decision-making: The availability of data on the optimum carrying capacity of the air in Karachi would have been very useful to arrive at a decision about the concentrated and/or dispersed location of these thermal power plants in regard to their impact on quality of air in the Karachi Metropolitan region.

Peer Review Committee Good practice rating: (1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score)
Sustainability		Efficiency
3	Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other.	2	Cost efficient.
3	Sustainable over time (not one-off)	Process
Adaptability		-	Participation of the community
2	Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?)	2	Participation of resource owners/users
2	Socio-cultural adaptability.	-	Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private)
3	Level of development adaptability.	3	Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments.
2	Style of government adaptability.	2	Ability to attract political interest/support
3	Degree of decentralization adaptability.	2	Procedures for feedback and review.
Comments on this example:       One significant characteristic of air pollution is that it spreads beyond the limit of any geographical boundary. Therefore, measuring the total emission in one countrys sky is a rather impossible task. The best alternative, apart from controlling emission levels for each source, is to encourage industries to install treatment plants or equipment because it is cost efficient in the longer-term and emission control would not be necessary because toxic gases will be treated before released into the atmosphere. Sustainability of the project:   Adaptability of the project to other situations:       Process of decision making and implementation:      Meeting information requirements: Development projects like the one in this example, building a power plant, is exactly the kind of project that would require an environmental impact assessment before going on any further with approval. Although we could almost imagine the magnitude of the benefit of going on with this project but what we also need to consider is whether the project that will highly effect the environmental condition or not. And if it does, the environmental costs incurred need to be reflected and evaluated for better decision-making. Cost efficiency: