“EFFECT OF ARTISANAL SMALL-SCALE MINING (ASM) ON SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD: A CASE STUDY OF SUMAYAR VALLEY, HUNZA-NAGAR DISTRICT OF GILGIT BALTISTAN”

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to assess the impact of artisanal small-scale mining (ASM) on sustainable livelihoods in the Sumayar valley of Hunza-Nagar district of Gilgit Baltistan (GB).The study seeks to answer the following questions: what is the impact of ASM on livelihoods in the valley? What is the impact of ASM on livelihoods controlling income (both high and low income households)? The dynamic relationship is analyzed utilizing Ordinary Least Squares Regression (OLS). Also it is based on two well-known theories, Sustainable Livelihood Framework (SLF) and Community Driven Development (CDD) approach, covering 150 household heads in 2020 through open and close ended questions. The findings of the study indicate that ASM has a positive impact on sustainable livelihood of Sumayar valley at 1% level of significance and by comparing high and low income groups it is analyzed that high income ASM households are more sustainable in terms of their livelihoods as compared to low income ASM households at 1% level of significance. By considering environmental aspect, 85% of miners indicated that mining had no adverse effect on the environment and the remaining 15% cited negative impacts such as air pollution. So, based on the estimated significant results, study accepted the alternate hypothesis (ASM has a positive effect on sustainable livelihoods of people of sumayar valley). Furthermore, the study contains a significant new perspective of knowledge especially by contextualizing sustainable development with ASM. This is an area that has largely been ignored by development researchers in Northern Pakistan. The study further emphasizes the need for policy makers to evolve and embrace developmental approach that is intergenerational.