PHOTO: FILE
The country representatives of The Asia Foundation Sofia Shakeel, during a meeting with the Federal Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid, also offered small grants for projects of climate change.
Hamid said Pakistan was facing many disasters in the form of floods, droughts, sea intrusion and melting glaciers as a result of climate change. “Pakistan is ranked seventh among countries most affected by the climate change" he said after the meeting held in the ministry on Wednesday.
The minister said that the fast pace of development and urbanisation would come at an environmental cost. “ Our emission levels will go higher as a result of our future developmental process,” he added.
The government is taking many initiatives to deal with climate change, including ratification of Paris agreement, submission of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, National Climate Change Policy, Framework to implement Climate Change Policy, Climate Change Act.
The Climate Change Council will be established to prepare projects while considering international standards. Zahid informed that National Assembly has approved Climate Change Act. It would be a functional law within next three months after getting approval from senate. The delegates of The Asia Foundation were also informed about launching of the Prime Minister's Green Pakistan Programme.
The Secretary Ministry of Climate Change Syed Ahmed Abu Akif also informed them that the text book containing chapters related to climate change has also been developed for early school children.
The meeting was attended by The Asia Foundation Deputy Country Representative Ameena Illahi, Joint Secretary Ministry of Climate Muhammad Farooq and Zile Huma.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2017.
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