The insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was mainly used in Pakistan as pest control in agriculture and for the eradication of malaria. For the DDT production, a factory was established in 1963 in Amangarh, near Nowshera district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. In 2001, the Pakistan government banned the usage of DDT, and subsequently, the Amangarh DDT factory also stopped its production. The present study was designed to investigate the occurrence of DDT residues after its closure. Total ∑DDT from soil samples at each depth was extracted by using a standard solvent extraction method. For the characterization of soil physical properties, three-to-five composite soil samples were collected from the site for soil particle size distribution, while soil pH and electrical conductivity were determined in a 1:5 ratio (soil water solution). The mean concentrations of ∑DDT in surface (0–15 cm), subsurface (15–30 cm) and deep horizon (30–45 cm) soil were 125.5, 143.6 and 148.9 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The concentrations of ∑DDT in 89% of the samples were higher than the probable effects level and threshold effects level. The contamination of ∑DDT was considerably higher than the standard limit (17 mg kg⁻¹). The highest concentration of ∑DDT in the subsurface and deep horizon indicated that the ∑DDT percolated deep into the soil and may also have contaminated the groundwater.

Soil and water pollution adversely affect growth and productivity of agri-business oriented crops in Pakistan. There are many crops consumed in Pakistan such as Lycopesicon Esculentum which is a major staple used in District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A greenhouse study was conducted to evaluate the effect of marble effluents on soil pH, water holding capacity (WHC) of soil, seed germination, number of leaves, number of inflorescences, stem girth, root, and shoot length along with their dry biomasses. Interestingly, there was a linear rise in pH of soil with increase in effluents concentration. Likewise, seed germination and root length were also improved with higher concentration of industrial effluents. The study found out no inflorescence at 100% effluent concentration. In contrast, highest inflorescence (6) was recorded at 10% effluent concentration. The earlier ripening of tomatoes occured with the highest concentration of effluents. There were no drastic changes in terms of number of seeds and its germination, while the shoot length was reduced as compared to control group. Significant differences of WHC in soil was found, moreover the maximum WHC was found in 20% treatment. These empirical results indicate that marble industry effluents may degrade the growth and productivity of Lesculentum. The study contributes to a better understanding of marble effluents on growth and productivity of Lycopesicion Esculentum in target area of study to improve agribusiness productivity for tomato while improving envoironmental sustainability.

Globally, the rapid growth of the population over the past century has put enormous pressure on freshwater resources. Pakistan, as a developing country, also faces a freshwater crisis. Rawal Lake, an essential freshwater reservoir near Pakistan’s capital, has been showing signs of deterioration for the past few years. Therefore, a brief study was planned to analyze the water quality of the lake and the associated recharge streams. Twelve physical and chemical parameters were selected along with the total bacterial and Escherichia coli count. Five sampling points were selected for water sampling. Results showed that the Mallpur stream significantly has higher pH, total suspended solids, and total dissolved solids values than the other sampling points and was not within the permissible limits of the World Health Organization. In the case of total bacterial count and Escherichia coli count, except Spillway, water samples showed higher concentrations than the permissible limits of world health organization. However, the mineral content such as Calcium, Magnesium, Nitrogen, Potassium, Chloride, and sulphate concentration at all sampling points are within the permissible limits of the world health organization’s drinking water standard. Results also showed that the water sampled from the Korang River tributary has more deterioration in physicochemical properties as well as in total bacterial count than the Mallpur tributary. Due to the deterioration of the water quality parameter, it is suggested that Rawal Lake water is not suitable for human consumption.