GLOBAL CHEMICAL FRAMEWORK AND GHS IN PAKISTAN: A POLICY ALIGNMENT REVIEW FOR BASEL, ROTTERDAM, MINAMATA CONVENTIONS AND IMO STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS CHEMICAL

Abstract

The world’s rapid industrial growth and increasing life style and demand of goods transported by the sea, have amplified the environmental pollution risk, making proper chemical handling during transport, storage and waste disposal more critical than ever. Poor management of these processes can harm ecosystems, people's health, and the economy. To address these issues, international agreements like the Besel, Rotterdam, and Minamata Conventions as well as maritime rules from the International Maritime organisation IMO and the globally harmonised system GHS, set clear guidelines for safely managing chemicals. As a country that has signed these agreements, Pakistan must take its own laws, match these global standards. However, the lack in unified legal system, weak coordination between government agencies, unlimited ability to enforce rules are still holding back proper compliance. This review adopts a qualitative, multi-criteria policy analysis approach, combining document analysis, stakeholder consultations, and comparative benchmarking with regional best practices. The study highlights major policy gaps, including partial implementation of prior informed consent procedures, absence of a mercury phase-out strategy, and inconsistent adoption of GHS. The visual synthesis tools such as compliance radar charts and stakeholder impact matrices further expose systemic weaknesses and potential areas for reform. The findings underscore the need for an integrated national strategy, enhanced institutional capabilities, and adoption of best practices to strengthen chemical safety governance and ensure sustainable maritime trade in Pakistan.