Dera Ghazi Khan is a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan, founded by Mir Haji Khan Mirani Baloch in the 15th century. For several centuries, it remained a stable Baloch state ruled by Baloch tribes until the British occupation of Balochistan in the 19th century, which resulted in the division of Balochistan into several parts, including Dera Ghazi Khan.
In the 1960s, uranium deposits were discovered in Dera Ghazi Khan, and Pakistan Atomic Energy started mining in the area in 1977, extracting around 25,000 kg of uranium annually. Uranium-235 and U-238, also known as yellowcake, are extracted from the mines, along with precious metals like Radium and Polonium.
However, the mining has had detrimental effects on the health of the local population. Uranium emissions from the Koh-i-Sulaiman mountains and nuclear radiation in Dera Ghazi Khan have resulted in increased cancerous diseases in the area. According to Dr. Muhammad Arshad, the cancer ratio in Dera Ghazi Khan and Koh-i-Sulaiman areas is much higher than in Lahore, but there are no health facilities in these areas.
The local population has expressed concerns about the dumping of nuclear waste materials in the mountains of Koh-i-Sulaiman. In 2005, residents of Baghlchar filed a case in court against the dumping of waste materials, but the issue was neither addressed nor taken seriously by the government.
The Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission has been accused of forcibly evicting the local population from their lands, and various projects in those areas have launched nuclear weapons. Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, an expert in nuclear science, has stated that the suppression of the legitimate concerns of the people of Dera Ghazi Khan and its surroundings about uranium mining is the reason for the silence on the issue.
In conclusion, the uranium mining in Dera Ghazi Khan has had adverse effects on the health of the local population. The dumping of nuclear waste materials and the radiation from atomic projects have increased the prevalence of cancerous diseases in the area. The local population has expressed their concerns about the issue, but their grievances have not been heard. It is time for the Pakistani government to address the issue and take steps to ensure the safety and health of the people of Dera Ghazi Khan.
References:
Dera Ghazi Khan." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2023. Dera Ghazi Khan | Pakistan
Uranium mining in Pakistan." The Express Tribune. The Express Tribune, 14 Mar. 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2023. Page not found | The Express Tribune
Cancer ratio high in DG Khan, Sulaiman areas." The Nation. The Nation, 14 Aug. 2016. Web. 18 Apr. 2023. https://nation.com.pk/14-Aug-2016/cancer-ratio-high-in-dg-khan-sulaiman-areas
Pakistan's nuclear cover-up." The Guardian. The Guardian, 14 Dec. 2011. Web. 18 Apr. 2023. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/14/pakistan-nuclear-cover-up
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