Broad policy urged to protect environment

CSCCC in collaboration with Ministry of Climate Change organises consultative session in Quetta

QUETTA:

A day-long consultative session was organised by the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Climate Change and the environment department, Government of Balochistan on Tuesday.

Speaking during the session, Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai said that a policy based on modern science was immediately needed to protect the environment from the negative impacts of climate change.

He said that during the 19th and 20th centuries human beings made great achievements in the field of science, economy and industrialization, but, on the other hand, faced serious issues such as global warming and climate change. These issues, he said, must be resolved through the implementation of Paris Accord of which Pakistan was also a signatory.

“The federal and provincial governments are taking steps for implementing the recommendations of the Paris Agreement. New trees are planted every year in the province and the Balochistan government is also making efforts to protect the existing forests,” he added.

The governor was of the opinion that NGOs could play an important role in spreading awareness about the impacts of global warming and climate change. He suggested that for the time being there was a need to construct small dams to increase underground water table in the province to save agricultural resources.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Environment, Forests and Livestock Obaidullah Babit, while sharing his views, said that awareness about the subject of environment and climate change was an encouraging concept, since the people of these regions were not much aware of these issues.

CSCCC Chief Executive Aisha Khan thanked the government of Balochistan for extending full-fledged support to hold the event.

Balochistan Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai was the chief guest at the session. The session was also attended by Adviser to Chief Minister on Environment, Forests and Livestock Obaidullah Babit, Secretary Environment Ghulam Muhammad Sabir, Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Director General Tariq Zehri  as well as policymakers, government officials, members of civil society, researchers, academia, private sector and media.