Poor environmental conservation decried
Experts suggest building capacity of EPA
PHOTO COURTESY: UN
ISLAMABAD:
Even though the government has cried hoarse about its focus on the environment, the lack of coordination between provinces on environmental matters apart from its failure to adequately implement the laws has betrayed that apart from planting trees it was not serious about the matter.
This was stated by environmental experts on Friday during a webinar on "Celebrate Biodiversity: EPAs role in environmental protection and improvement". The webinar had been jointly organised by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) and DTN to mark the World Environment Day.
EPA fails to take action against brick kilns emitting toxic smoke
Environmental Law Expert Ahmad Rafay Alam said that there is a need to revisit the environmental laws and build the capacity of environment protection agencies (EPAs) so that they can comprehend the relevant legislation. Equally important, he said, was to approve development projects of EPAs.
One consequence Alam pointed out was that government projects do not have environment impact assessment (EIAs) reports which indicate what a certain project can do to the environment and biodiversity of a certain project.
“Unfortunately, we have no national regime intact and active for many years to prevent environmental degradation,” he said.
Pakistan EPA’s founding director-general Asif Shuja Khan called for activating national coordination forums for proactive decision-making to protect the environment. He also urged to develop mechanisms to address transboundary environmental issues.
EPA cracks down on use of plastic bags
“We don’t see any meeting of the Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry on the environment and climate change,” he said, adding that the highest national environmental platform, the Environment Council of Pakistan, has been lying dormant for the past decade.
Pak-EPA’s incumbent Director-General Dr Farzana Altaf pointed out that they have limited authority and mandate, especially after the 18th amendment of the constitution.
She called on the civil society to come up with an awareness and support drives for the conservation and protection of the environment.
“We cannot stop development [projects],” she conceded.
WWF-Pakistan Senior Director Rab Nawaz said that Pakistan was fast losing its biological diversity because of negligence by the authorities.
Environmental crimes, he said, continued to go unchecked resulting in a huge loss of nature and natural resources.
“EPAs should be well equipped with technical and financial support with some authority,” he suggested.
EPA bans environmentally unfit vehicles
Mexico’s Environment and Community Development expert Norma Munguia asked to promote community-based management of natural resources.
Xi’an University Professor Shan Wang shared experiences of the Chinese community, stating that they have strict environmental laws and that they improved their environment with the participation of communities.
Nepal Community Development Expert Nima Gurung said community intervention is key to environmental conservation.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2020.
Even though the government has cried hoarse about its focus on the environment, the lack of coordination between provinces on environmental matters apart from its failure to adequately implement the laws has betrayed that apart from planting trees it was not serious about the matter.
This was stated by environmental experts on Friday during a webinar on "Celebrate Biodiversity: EPAs role in environmental protection and improvement". The webinar had been jointly organised by the Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) and DTN to mark the World Environment Day.
EPA fails to take action against brick kilns emitting toxic smoke
Environmental Law Expert Ahmad Rafay Alam said that there is a need to revisit the environmental laws and build the capacity of environment protection agencies (EPAs) so that they can comprehend the relevant legislation. Equally important, he said, was to approve development projects of EPAs.
One consequence Alam pointed out was that government projects do not have environment impact assessment (EIAs) reports which indicate what a certain project can do to the environment and biodiversity of a certain project.
“Unfortunately, we have no national regime intact and active for many years to prevent environmental degradation,” he said.
Pakistan EPA’s founding director-general Asif Shuja Khan called for activating national coordination forums for proactive decision-making to protect the environment. He also urged to develop mechanisms to address transboundary environmental issues.
EPA cracks down on use of plastic bags
“We don’t see any meeting of the Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry on the environment and climate change,” he said, adding that the highest national environmental platform, the Environment Council of Pakistan, has been lying dormant for the past decade.
Pak-EPA’s incumbent Director-General Dr Farzana Altaf pointed out that they have limited authority and mandate, especially after the 18th amendment of the constitution.
She called on the civil society to come up with an awareness and support drives for the conservation and protection of the environment.
“We cannot stop development [projects],” she conceded.
WWF-Pakistan Senior Director Rab Nawaz said that Pakistan was fast losing its biological diversity because of negligence by the authorities.
Environmental crimes, he said, continued to go unchecked resulting in a huge loss of nature and natural resources.
“EPAs should be well equipped with technical and financial support with some authority,” he suggested.
EPA bans environmentally unfit vehicles
Mexico’s Environment and Community Development expert Norma Munguia asked to promote community-based management of natural resources.
Xi’an University Professor Shan Wang shared experiences of the Chinese community, stating that they have strict environmental laws and that they improved their environment with the participation of communities.
Nepal Community Development Expert Nima Gurung said community intervention is key to environmental conservation.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 6th, 2020.