Steps urged to protect environment

LAHORE:

Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora has called for collective efforts to protect the environment, saying tree plantation, cleanliness and conservation of natural resources are national and moral responsibilities.

He was speaking at an interfaith seminar titled "Green Pakistan, United Pakistan", held under the theme "Different Religions, One Nation, One Planet" at St Joseph Catholic Church on Saturday.

The seminar was organised by the Life for Guardians Foundation (LGF) in connection with National Minority Week and Independence Day.

Arora said the Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, was taking measures to promote environmentally friendly policies, increase tree plantation, control pollution and mitigate the effects of climate change.

He described Pakistan as a diverse nation where people belonging to different religions, cultures and traditions enjoyed equal rights. He said National Minority Week and Independence Day conveyed messages of unity, tolerance, mutual respect and national harmony.

Former provincial minister Ijaz Alam Augustine said all religions practised in Pakistan promoted peace, love, service to humanity and respect for nature. He said the minority community had consistently played a constructive role in the country's development, stability and prosperity.

Augustine stressed that protecting the environment was a shared responsibility of the government and citizens and called for greater public participation to ensure a clean, green and safe environment for future generations.