Web Exclusive Pak issues norms to address health risks from mobile phone base stations
Pakistan's minister of information technology Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari recently announced a policy establishing national guidelines for mitigating environmental and health related effects of cellular base station antennas, and addressing public concerns regarding hazards from radiation. The policy will move base station antennas or mobile phone towers outside the residential areas of Karachi.
The demand for wireless and cellular telephony is projected to grow at a substantial pace in Pakistan. Due to the heavy investment made by operators in rollout, the total number of cellular and wireless local loop (WLL) base stations in the country stands at around 10,000, and is expected to cross 13,000 in 2007, Leghari said. The Cabinet had asked the ministry of information technology (MoIT) to study the effects of this increase and respond with appropriate policy steps.The minister said, "Radiation from base stations was thoroughly analysed in light of international research and recommendations of standard bodies American National Society/Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (ANS/IEEE) and the International Council for Non Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).'
"Owing to the findings of some research studies indicating probability of negative effects on human well being, both the standards bodies have recommended precautionary approaches and have set conservative limits for exposure to radiation. In view of the study and extensive consultation, MoIT has decided that Pakistan needs to adopt a precautionary approach in light of non-conclusiveness of international research and put in place a directive to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in this regard,' Leghari said. PTA regulates the establishment, operation and maintenance of the country's telecommunication system.