Stone-Crushing Industry and Housing Demand in Pakistan
Stone-Crushing Industry and Housing Demand in Pakistan
Nazish Huma Khan1*, Mohammad Nafees2, Tooba Saeed3, Sarzamin Khan1, Hazrat Hussain4, Adila Bashir2 and Nida Naz1
ABSTRACT
In developing countries, the stone-crushing industry is an important industrial sector, producing raw materials for construction activities. On the other hand, stone crushing has significant effects on the environment and human health. This study reviews the contribution of stone crushers in the construction sector and the degradation of environmental quality with special reference to Pakistan. For this purpose, literature from various journals was studied to collect the data. The results of the study revealed the increasing population in Pakistan, with an annual demand of 2.4% for accommodation and housing. While the country’s construction industry accounts for 2.53% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The construction sector is reported to employ 7.61% of the population. In this regard, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has given impetus to the construction sector with an influx of infrastructure projects of power plants, dams, and highways. For such developmental activities, the role of the crushing unit is tremendous in providing the basic raw material for infrastructure. The literature revealed that the majority of stone-crushing units are operating illegally as 567 units have been declared hazardous to health and safety in the Peshawar region. Due to the lack of safety measures, workers involved in stone crushers were exposed to significant exposure to dust and noise, including respiratory (45.1%), skin (43.3%), eye irritation (17.8%), dyspnea (14.7%) and hearing (21%). It is therefore important to formulate a comprehensive, professional, and environmentally friendly management strategy for stone crushers. This study shows that regulatory measures are urgently needed to save the environment from pollution abatement. Among the underdeveloped countries, Pakistan is considered as one of the most highly populated countries. To respond to strong demographic pressure, the construction industry has become one of the main sectors in the country. Keeping this scenario, this study will help to know the availability and demand of raw materials for the construction industry. For a sustainable future, this study will propose a professional and ecological management strategy for stone crushers without affecting the economy and position of the stone-crushing industry.
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