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Semi-Quantitative Environmental Impact Assessment of Khewra Salt Mine of Pakistan: an Application of Mathematical Approach of Environmental Sustainability

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Abstract

The environmental sustainability is linked back to human sustainability; the sustainability development comprises the environment, society, and economics. This study mainly focused on mining sustainability and its impact on the environment of Pakistan. For measuring the level and environmental mining sustainability nature to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the world’s second largest salt mine “Khewra,” Folchi and Phillips environmental sustainability mathematics (PESM) models are applied. The results indicated that Khewra was deemed to be potentially sustainable for the environment and quality of salt. The results suggest the delicate balance of maintaining sustainability successfully, regarding the mining process in Pakistan which has been affecting the local environment and community so badly. The paper lays emphasis on the potential significance of the model’s application for the attainment of sustainable mining goal. This study is essential for researchers, Mining Environmental Impact Assessors, and Government of Pakistan in environmental and socioeconomic perspective.

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Acknowledgments

Sobia Naseem highly acknowledges the China Scholarship Council (CSC), China, for sponsoring her Ph.D. under foreigners Scholarship Program. Sobia Naseem also acknowledges Khewra Mines’ Management team and data collection team for their valuable time and efforts.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Optimization and Decision Analytics, Liaoning Technical University, No.47, Zhonghua road, 123000, Fuxin, Liaoning, China

    Sobia Naseem & Gao Lei Fu

  2. Business Administration, Liaoning Technical University, No.47, Zhonghua road, 125105, Fuxin, Liaoning, China

    Muhammad Mohsin

  3. Management Sciences, National Textile University, 38000, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Zia-ur Rehman & Sajjad Ahmad Baig

Authors
  1. Sobia Naseem
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  2. Gao Lei Fu
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  3. Muhammad Mohsin
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  4. Muhammad Zia-ur Rehman
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  5. Sajjad Ahmad Baig
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Contributions

Sobia Naseem, the first and leading author, initially comprehends and designs the research. The data analysis and original drafting are also done by her under the supervision of Gao Lei Fu and the corresponding author Muhammad Mohsin. Muhammad Zia Ur Rehman, the fourth author, has contributed in reshaping the paper according to the requirements of the journal and arranging visit for the data collection and proofreading. The last author, Sajjad Ahmad Baig has contributed in the section of discussion and results and compilation of the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Muhammad Mohsin.

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Naseem, S., Fu, G.L., Mohsin, M. et al. Semi-Quantitative Environmental Impact Assessment of Khewra Salt Mine of Pakistan: an Application of Mathematical Approach of Environmental Sustainability. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 37, 1185–1196 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00214-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00214-9

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