Impact of Oil and Gas Extraction on Health in District Karak Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan

Abstract

The present study was conducted in the district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan and the sole aim of the study was to find out the impact of oil and gas extraction on the local communities. Data were collected from 376 respondents in six village councils of the district Karak. The results revealed a significant association was found between social developments and the contaminated water produced at the time of Oil and gas discovery causes health hazards for the people of communities (p= .000). The findings also indicated that Local area has witnessed fatal diseases like cancer after explorative activities. During Oil and Gas extraction, polluted water is produced in large amount and is released into the sources of clean and drinking water, which may cause damage of agriculture, wild life and different diseases like cancer and respiratory diseases may also erupt in local people. Therefore, there is strong need for government to address these issues and enforce effective environmental regulations to protect clean water sources, biodiversity, and ecological balance.