Senators oppose cricket stadium at Shakarparian

Ask climate change ministry to devise action plan to combat challenges

ISLAMABAD:

A parliamentary panel on Monday expressed reservations on the proposed construction of a cricket stadium in Islamabad.

Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change met here under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Yousaf Badini.



Capital Development Authority (CDA) Member Environment Sanaullah Aman told the committee that construction of cricket stadium at Shakarparian green area was decided at a higher level.

He said that the PCB submitted an environment impact assessment (EIA) report, which was not approved.

Botanical gardens

Regarding the establishment of botanical gardens all over the country, including one in Islamabad, climate change ministry secretary Abu Akif  said that the building of Zoological Society of Pakistan (ZSP) had been completed as well as fencing posts had also been erected on the land.

He said that the ministry was looking for partners to establish National Botanical Garden at the ZSP on a public-private partnership basis.

The secretary told the committee that former minister for climate change Mushahidullah Khan had signed an MoU with a tobacco company to establish a botanical garden at ZSP without seeking the approval of the law division.



He said that now the ministry had written to the law ministry for approval of the MoU. The committee members asked climate change ministry officials to take practical steps to cope with environmental challenges which according to them are greater than terrorism.

They offered all out support to the ministry to push the issue of climate change on top of political agenda.

The committee also pledged to play its role to mobilise support for tackling climate change issues by sensitising political leaders at different forums.

They termed climate change as a more serious issue than terrorism as the former puts human survival at risk.

Senator Mushahid Hussain emphasised on the ministry to prepare an action plan to address climate change issues.

He criticised that similar briefings were being given by the officials for the last six months.

Awareness campaign

The climate change ministry secretary Abu Akif who joined the ministry two months ago said that much work was not done in the past but promised to improve the situation.



In a written reply, the ministry informed the committee that large-scale public awareness campaign had been launched.

Secretary Akif said that a Pakistan Climate Change Council was being established.

He said that a policy draft had been shared with provinces and all other stakeholders to tackle climate change issues according to international agreements.



A committee member suggested the imposition of complete ban on manufacturing of polyethene bags in Islamabad.

The secretary said that Pakistan had no water policy, and around 5,000 cusecs per day was needed from Kotri to downstream to control sea intrusion.

Rising sea level

The committee directed the ministry to convene a conference of experts to discuss the issue of rising sea level and its fallout for Karachi.

The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Director-General, Dr Asif Inam, informed the committee that 50 million people could be affected due to the rise of sea level along coastal areas of Pakistan and India while 40 million people would have to leave their cities near the sea.

The committee was informed that sea level rise in Karachi and adjoining Indus delta areas was based on the data collected during the 100 years.

“The estimated rise is 1.2mm per year and it is expected to double during next 50 to 100 years resulting in a 20-50cm rise in sea level,” Inam said.

The committee was informed that increased threat of cyclonic activity in the Arabian Sea was likely to make the two coastal provinces, Sindh and Balochistan more vulnerable.

“In view of the scenario the NIO and Suparco jointly prepared a PSDP proposal, which was submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology,” Asif said.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2016.