SC seeks details of steps taken to mitigate climate change

K-P, Balochistan chief secretaries inform bench about projects in two provinces

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court was informed that the federal government's policy regarding climate change would be completed and submitted in the court by August 15, as a three-member bench took up the matter of implementation of effective climate change policies in the country on Wednesday.

A three-member bench, led by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, and including Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Justice Shahid Bilal, heard the case. During the hearing, Prime Minister's Coordinator on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam was also present.

The chief secretaries of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan informed the court about the steps taken by the two provincial governments to mitigate the effects of climate change. The court was informed that almost all the 195 projects in K-P had been completed.

Justice Shah asked about the Balochistan's policy that was made in June 2024. The additional advocate general said that 19 dams were being constructed in the province with the support of the federal government.

While addressing Alam, the court said that the federal government should also give a detailed report on the measures regarding climate change. The attorney general for Pakistan (AGP) said that the policy would be completed by August 15 and submitted to the court. The hearing was adjourned till August 15.

Senate panel

Sherry Rehman, the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, has expressed her dissatisfaction with the performance with the Ministry of Climate, noting that the ministry does not have any strategy to deal with the vital issue.

Briefing on the performance of the ministry in a meeting of the standing committee on Wednesday, Climate Change Secretary Aizaz Dar said the government is formulating a carbon policy and that approved projects are worth Rs441 million, with pipeline projects exceeding Rs1558.60 million.

He noted that 113 biosafety licenses were issued after three months of meetings. He urged the Planning Commission and provinces to code their data.

The committee chairperson, however, rejected the presentation submitted by the Climate Change Ministry. "The presentation is outdated. It does not show as to what are the ministry's priorities; what are its recent initiatives and what are the public messages with regard to climate change.

The chairperson said by 2030, Pakistan has to convert energy into electricity.

"What is the plan? What will you get from international donors on this presentation? Such a presentation will not help us. Do you know how the Climate Authority will work?" she asked.