Water Management for a Mega City: A Comparative Study of Selected Localities of Lahore

Pakistan falls in the category of water scarce countries. Lahore a major city of Pakistan, with a population of 12 million is likely to face serious water shortage in near future. The actual amount of water required for each domestic activity was pertinent in order to find the total consumption of water locality wise. One hundred families each from five selected localities were chosen for this survey. The Model town was selected as a model locality so that its findings and calculations can be generalized on other localities for comparison. It was found that for all daily indoor activities, 160.2 million liters (42 gallons) is the total quantity required. For all daily outdoor domestic activities, 487.92 million liters (128.9 million gallons) of water is to be made available. Results were examined and compared with other mega-cities, to learn from their experiences and plans to cope with the challenges in large cities

The Impact of Leadership on Project Performance

In this research study, leadership factors of HR planning were adopted on the basis of project nature and analyzed the effect of the factors on the performance of the project. The links of these factors with strategic goals and objectives of the project were explored in order to improve project performance and develop organizational culture that foster innovativeness, flexibility, formulating and executing HR systems & policies and activities that produce the employees competencies and behavior the project needs to achieve its strategic aims. The data was collected from includes 70 employees from four main consultancies companies working together on a project, located in Lahore, Pakistan. Responses were gone through EFA and Cronbach's alpha test to assure consistency and reliability. Finally, path analysis in SEM using Amos was run to explore the nature and strength of the links. Results suggest that leadership has positive links with project performance. Keywords: HR Planning, Project Human Management System (PHMS), Leadership, SE

Determining Project Performance: The Role of Training and Compensation

The HR is one of the important departments for any organization to accomplish its management tasks in an effective and efficient manner. Major failures of projects may occur due to lack of proper HR planning. This study is aimed to assess whether training and compensations of a project team have any links with the project performance. The data was collected from 73 employees from four main consultant companies working together on a project, located in Lahore, Pakistan. Responses were gone through EFA and Cronbach's Alpha test to assure consistency and reliability. Finally, path analysis in SEM using Amos was run to explore the nature and strength of the links. Results suggest that both training and compensation of project team members are positively associates with project performance. Keywords: HR Planning, Training, Project performance, Compensation, Pakista

Ecological niche model comparison under different climate scenarios: a case study of Olea spp. in Asia

Ecological niche modeling (and the related species distribution modeling) has been used as a tool with which to assess potential impacts of climate change processes on geographic distributions of species. However, the factors introducing variation into niche modeling outcomes are not well understood: To this end, we used seven algorithms to develop models (Maxent, GARP, BIOCLIM, artificial neural networks, support‐vector machines, climate envelope, and environmental distance) to estimate the potential geographic distribution of olives (Olea europaea sensu lato, including Olea ferruginea) under two climatic data sets (current 2000 and future 2050). Five general circulation models and two representative concentration pathway scenarios were used as predictor variables in future projections of the geographic potential of this species; models were fit at global extents (10′ spatial resolution) but transferred and interpreted for a region of particular interest in Central Asia, which largely avoids problems with truncation of niche estimates. We found marked differences among approaches in predicted distributions and model performance, as well as in the future distributional pattern reconstructed, from one algorithm to another. These general approaches, when model‐to‐model variation is managed appropriately, appear promising in predicting the potential geographic distribution of O. europaea sensu lato and thus can be an effective tool in restoration and conservation planning for wild populations, as well as possible commercial plantations of this species

Development & application of Conceptual Framework Model (CFM) for environmental risk assessment of contaminated lands

Dumping sites are the most common types of contaminated lands as they pollute the environment. Environmental management of contaminated sites cannot be delivered effectively and efficiently without robust holistic & integrated risk assessment. Previous studies reveal the absence of a risk assessment model that holistically integrates all essential factors progressively and categorically. The study aimed to develop a holistic & integrated Conceptual Framework Model (CFM) for environmental risk assessment and to apply developed CFM on real-world existing Mahmood Booti Open Dumping Site (MBODS). CFM developed in this study had three main tiers i.e., baseline study, hazard identification & exposure assessment, and risk estimation. For the application of CFM, baseline data were collected and assessed. Water, leachate & soil samples were collected within 1000 m across the site and analyzed for physio-chemical parameters and heavy metals to estimate risk. Results of applied CFM depicted that Physico-chemical analysis of leachate, water, and soil revealed significant pollution levels. Heavy metal analysis exhibited that Ni, Pb, Mn, and Cr levels exceeded the allowable limits of the “World Health Organization” in leachate, water, and soil samples. It also revealed the existence of metals at the source (dumping site itself), pathway, and receptor of the dumping site. Eir value for Ni, Pb and Cd from the study area manifested a serious probable risk to ecological integrities. Results for PERI from dumpsite demonstrated a serious ecological risk. It can be concluded that although Mahmood Booti dumping site has been at post-closure stage, it is a momentous source of hazardous toxic contaminants to the nearby inhabitants. The work presented in this paper may reproduce repeatedly to create site-specific risk assessment models of other contaminated lands in a cost-effective, consistent and cohesive manner. Application of CFM at Mahmood Booti Dumping site described detailed risk assessment which helps further in risk management

Environmental Quantification of the Existing Waste Management System in a Developing World Municipality Using EaseTech: The Case of Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Evaluation of existing operational and managerial provisions and identification of specific actions that fit and impact in a local context is key to find sustainable solutions. The study aims to develop an understanding of existing waste management practices for a medium sized city of Pakistan and to quantify the related environmental impacts using life cycle assessment (LCA). The existing waste management system in “Bahawalpur”, a city with predominant rural-urban infusion, is characterized by straining resources, low generation rates (0.424 kg/capita/day), prominent source separation, high scavenging activities and open dumping practices. The waste composition analysis proposes organic wastes as the largest constituent (64%) followed by recyclables (27%) and inerts (9%). The LCA model “EaseTech” used to quantify the environmental performance of existing waste management arrangements illustrated that existing waste management system in Bahawalpur City has tangible effects on climate change (3.16 × 107 kg CO2-Eq) and ecotoxicity (3.12 × 106 CTU) categories, while depletion of abiotic resources fossil (−9.60 × 107) category points up most environmental savings. Significant environmental compensations for different impact categories are offered due to high source separation and recycling trade off. The overview necessitates suitable modification in existing waste disposal practice that poses severe impacts on the environment

An Analysis of Age Dependency Burden and Saving Rates in Pakistan

This study analyzes the impact of age dependency on gross savings for the period of 1975 to 2018 by applying ARDL and Granger causality techniques. The findings of the study suggest that young-age dependency and old-age dependency have a negative impact on gross savings in the long run. Granger causality test reveals that the causality between age-dependency of young and gross savings is bidirectional while the causality between age-dependency of old and gross savings is unidirectional. The study is also equipped with policy implications

Physicochemical Properties, Contamination and Suitability of Canal Water for Irrigation, Lahore Branch Pakistan

The pollution status of Lahore branch canal was determined by physical, chemical and metal constituents because the water is used for irrigation of lands in and around the city. The average result of each physical, chemical and metal parameter at 12 different sites (Location-1 to Location-12) of Lahore branch canal was compared with Food and Agricultural organization (FAO). All physical and chemical parameters were within standards limit while metals concentrations were found in variable quantities in canal water samples. cadmium, copper and chromium concentration was found much higher than the permissible FAO standards

Chemical composition and source characterization of PM10 in urban areas of Lahore, Pakistan

This study aims to assess the physicochemical characteristics of the particulate matter ≤10 µm (PM10) at both congested and non-congested areas of Lahore, the second-largest city of Pakistan. PM10 samples from 10 urban sites in Lahore were analysed for source apportionment. The techniques of scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM/EDX) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) were used to determine the morphology and the chemical composition of PM10. Thirteen elements including toxic metals were consequently detected and quantified: Ca (48.1%), Zn (17.0%), Fe (13.3%), Al (8.2%), Mg (6.6%), Pb (5.5%), Mn (0.4%), Cu (0.3%), Ba (0.17%), Cd (0.15%), Ni (0.04%), Cr (0.01%) and Co (0.008%). The results showed that the daily PM10 concentration was 6%–9% higher than the World Health Organization’s guideline values at all urban sites of Lahore. The congested sites showed higher contents than the non-congested areas for most of the elements, including Cd (41.8%), Cr (35.0%), Zn (19.7%), Cu (12.7%), Ni (6.2%), Ca (3.4%), Ba (1.2%), Mg (1.2%) and Al (0.07%). The non-congested areas showed higher contents only for Pb (0.07%) and Co (4.3%). The principal component analysis indicated that 72% of PM10 originates from road dust and vehicular sources, and 38% from industrial sources

GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Evaluation of Landfill Site Selection in Lahore, Pakistan

In Pakistan, solid waste management (SWM) is considered to be a serious problem, with most of the hazardousand non-hazardous waste being dumped in landfills without any segregation. The key objective of our research was to select a suitable landfill site that is environmentally sound, economically feasible and socially acceptable for metropolitan Lahore. Lahore District is located in one of the world’s largest fluvial plains, namely the Indo-Gangetic meandering rivers system plain. There is only one functional landfill site situated in the northern part of the city. Multi-criteria decision aid (MCDA) and geographical information system were combined and used in this research that blends two aggregation methods: weight linear combination (WCL) and assigning criteria weights. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) pair-wise comparison method was applied for assigning weights to the 9 delineated criteria. The result of the analysis show that 7 (6.26% highly suitable) possible sites are available that are greater than 50 ha in area. The selected potential landfill locations were contrasted with each other in connection to their land size, distance from nearby settlements and from the city center. The result shows that site number 6, with a weight of 0.22 (22.21%), is the most suitable location for a landfill site in Lahore. In addition, landfill site 4 is considered the least preferable site due to its weight. This site has the least environmental and social impacts, as it is at a reasonable distance from settlements and is at the same time comparatively closer to the city center. This study highlights the importance of the landfill siting process for the fluvial plain and helps in decision making