Policy Brief on Ensuring Safe Vegetable Production amid Heavy Metal Risks Free from Wastewater Irrigation in Punjab, Pakistan

Authors

  • Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal* Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Tayyaba Naz Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
  • Iqra Ghafoor Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
  • Fraza Ijaz Soil Bacteriology Section, ABRI, AARI, Faisalabad.
  • Saiqah Toor Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Gujrat.
  • Syed Ali Zulqadar Soil and Water Testing Laboratory for Research, Bahawalpur.
  • Hafiz Abu Bakar Amin Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
  • Ahmad Mustafa Department of Software Engineering, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Kafeel Ahmad Department of Botany, Baba Guru Nanak University, Nankana Sahib.
  • Abdul Rehman Department of Agronomy, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Muhammad Usman Ghazanfar Department of Plant Pathology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Salman Ahmad Department of Plant Pathology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Nadeem Anwar Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Naeem Akhtar Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Saeed Rauf Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Usman Saleem Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Muhammad Asam Riaz Department of Entomology, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Muhammad Kamran Department of Agronomy, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Zulqarnain Haider Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.
  • Muhammad Zubair Department of Horticulture, University of Sargodha, Sargodha.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i1.1559

Abstract

The untreated wastewater irrigation in producing vegetables from the peri-urban areas of Punjab, Pakistan, poses enormous health risks because the wastewater, particularly the industrial wastewater, is a source of heavy metals that cumulate in vegetables. This policy brief accentuates the contamination of wastewater irrigated vegetables with heavy metals and gives recommendations on safe vegetable production based on recent studies. This policy brief calls for the need to have strict regulation and monitoring of irrigation practices based on wastewater for sustainable agriculture and public health assurance.

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Published

30-03-2025

How to Cite

Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal*, Tayyaba Naz, Iqra Ghafoor, Fraza Ijaz, Saiqah Toor, Syed Ali Zulqadar, … Muhammad Zubair. (2025). Policy Brief on Ensuring Safe Vegetable Production amid Heavy Metal Risks Free from Wastewater Irrigation in Punjab, Pakistan. Social Science Review Archives, 3(1), 3073–3076. https://doi.org/10.70670/sra.v3i1.1559

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 1 (2025): Social Science Review Archives (January-March)

Section

Articles