Scope of environmental science degree in Pakistan in 2023

Introduction

In Pakistan, after completion of intermediate education (high school in the US), students often get confused about what to choose for their higher education especially those who haven’t succeeded in securing the seats of MBBS or B.E. in medical colleges and engineering universities. They start to learn about different degrees and their scopes in Pakistan since career counseling is not common here so most of the students choose the field based on their marks secured in intermediate exams and also the available job market in the field.

If you are planning to do your bachelors or masters in Environmental sciences and want to know the scope of this degree in our country, you are at the right place. In this article, we will discuss the scope of environmental science, which sectors and companies offer jobs to environmental science graduates or environmentalists. How much they can earn from those jobs? What additional skills should environmentalist also acquire along with their degree to boost their employability and get hired earlier?

The government is determined to increase the scope of environmental sciences

Unlike other developed countries the scope of environmental science it’s not that much as compared to some other fields like finance, banking, it, and engineering. Due to the increase in environmental problems and challenges, the government of Pakistan and other private organizations are emphasizing to learn more about the environment. The government is focusing on the increment of demand for environmental experts and empowering this field to be chosen by youngsters.  The government has already made environmental science subjects compulsory at the school level of education and they are putting soft pressure on the companies to hire environmental scientist in their firms so that the environmental problems of the country can be solved.

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International Soft pressure to increase the number of environmental experts

Pakistan is very much affected by climate change and other environmental consequences and is continuously under pressure from the international environmental organizations, and alliances to work on the betterment of the environment and to promote the studies of environment sciences. Pakistan is a signatory of many environmental treaties and conventions which pressure the government to work in this sector.

Career opportunities

Different public and private companies, industries, and organizations are continuously looking for competent environmentalist in their firms. Environmentalists are hired directly in an environmental department in the firm in the health and safety departments or CSR corporate social responsibility division. All big industries and companies and Almost every medium-sized company have a division of corporate social responsibility that aims to work on local community development and environmental betterment. Environmentalists are abundantly hired in every other company in the country where CSR is employed.

Following are the areas with environmentalists that are required.

1. Water resource management

The water bodies of Pakistan are very much affected by environmental pollution. Environmental scientists are required to study water quality how to save water sustainable water management practices.

2. Air quality monitoring

Air pollution is one of the main concerns, especially in metropolitan cities like Karachi and Lahore. Pakistan has been facing severe air pollution this decade and environmentalists are required to monitor the air quality and to find out the solution how to improve air quality.

3. Agriculture sustainability

Pakistan is an agricultural country and is trying to do agriculture practices sustainably. Environmentalists are required in the agriculture sector to save it from drying out and from the disasters of the environment and to make it more environmentally friendly.

4. Energy sector

Like other countries, Pakistan is also planning to generate electricity using renewable resources like wind,  solar,  geothermal, and water. Environmentalists are required for their expertise in renewable resources management.

5. Environmental laws and regulations

The state is more focused on the improvement of the laws and regulations of the environment today than previously. Environmental advocates and environmentalists are required in both public and private sectors for compliance.

6. Biodiversity and ecosystem conservation

Wildlife species are on the verge of extinction and ecosystems are damaged. Environmental experts are required to conserve wildlife and biodiversity. They also work on how to manage and save the different ecosystems.

7. Research and academia

Almost every university offers a degree in environmental sciences and all other different fields have a subject of environmental science as a compulsory miner. People having masters in environmental sciences and Ph.D. degrees are required as lecturers, professors, and assistant teachers. Similarly,  environmental researchers are required in different public organizations of Pakistan for example SUPARCO and the Pakistan Meteorological Department PMD, etc.

8. NGOs and international organizations

Many environmentalists are continuously being hired by certain NGOs in Pakistan and they also work for international organizations remotely like UN-REDD+ programs.

9. Eco-tourism and public awareness

Due to the increase in environmental awareness among people, the demand for environmental educators is also increased. Similarly, eco-tourism  ( see more: Mubarak village eco-tourism) is also promoted country-wide environmentalists are required to offer their services in these sectors as well.

10. Climate change sectors

Many researchers of environmental sciences are required in the field of climate change in different public national and international firms.

Names of hiring organizations of Environmentalists in Pakistan  

1. Government agencies

• Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency PEPA
• Provincial environmental protection agencies like
• Punjab Environmental Protection Agency
• KPK Environmental Protection Agency,
• Sindh Environmental Protection Agency, and
• Baluchistan Environmental Protection Agency
• SUPARCO
• PMD
• Ministry of Climate Change MCC

2. Non- Government organizations

• Worldwide fund for nature WWF Pakistan
• International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN
• Pakistan Sustainable Development Policy Institute SDPI
• United Nations reducing emission from deforestation and desertification UN-REDD+

3. Research and academic institutions

• University of Karachi
• Federal Urdu university of arts science and technology
• Sir Syed university
• Humdard university
• KASBIT University
• Bahria University and so on

4. Energy sectors

• Karachi Electric K.E.
• Engro
• Descon
• Fatima Group
• WAPDA

5. Construction Companies

• Habib construction services
• Lucky cement
• Falcon cement

6. Pharmaceutical and chemical industries

• GSK
• Abbott
• Hilton Pharma

7. Water and sanitation department

• water and sanitation agency WASA
• Karachi Metropolitan Corporation KMC

8. Climate change sectors

• The alternate energy developed board AEDB
• Pakistan Meteorological Department PMD

9. Wildlife management sectors

• Sindh Wildlife Department Authority
• Himalayan wildlife Foundation

10. Oil and gas companies

• Pakistan Petroleum Limited PPL
• oil and gas development company limited OGDCL
• Private oil and gas companies

11. Telecommunication and technology

• Jazz
• Telenor
• PTCL

12. Food and beverage industry

• Nestle
• Coca-Cola
• Pepsico

13. Textile industries

• Artistic milliners
• Al-karam textiles
• Khadi
• Junaid Jamshed
• Surty textiles
• Levi’s

14. Hospitals

• Aga khan hospital
• Liaquat national hospital
• Lady diffuren hospital
• Patel hospital
• Ziauddin hospital
• Dow university hospital
• Hamdard university hospital

15. Banks

• HBL
• UBL
• Meezan Bank
• Standard Chartered Bank
• MCB

16. Consultation firms

• NESPAK environmental and public health engineering
• EMC management consultants
• PEC Pakistan environmental consultants
• ERM environmental resource management
• TCEMS team consulting engineering and management services
• Aegis services
• Aqu-cal environmental consultants
• OCS Consulting Private Limited
• ECS Environmental Consultancy services

Environmentalists Salary ranges

• Entry-level graduates may earn from 20000PKR to 40000PKR per month
• Intermediate level 40000PKR to 80000PKR per month
• Experienced environmental 80000PKR to 200000PKR per month

The environmental consultants who work privately and provide consultation services to different government and private companies and individuals may earn up to 5 Lacs (0.5 million PKR) to 10 Lacs (1 million PKR) per month.

Additional skills for environmentalists to go with the degree

Certificates in EIA, sustainability management, HSE, ISO 14001, data analysis, and skills in statistical software will give a boost to your career in the field of environmental sciences.