Seminar: Botanical garden, environmental sciences dept to be set up at QAU

Speakers urge increasing understanding and awareness of biodiversity among the students.

A botanical garden and Environmental Sciences Department will be established at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU). This was announced by Vice-Chancellor Prof (Dr) Masoom Yasinzai on Thursday. He was addressing a seminar which was held at the exhibition organised by the Department of Plant Sciences, to celebrate the ‘International Biodiversity Day’. The event aimed at increasing understanding and awareness of biodiversity among the students.

An exhibition of posters and models was also organised by the students of Plant Sciences. In this connection, they displayed their art work and scientific models.

Dean Faculty of Biological Science, Prof (Dr) Mir Ajab Khan, in his welcome address, highlighted the objective of the event. He said biodiversity and food security were interlinked.

While addressing the audiences QAU, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Masoom Yasinzai said the biodiversity in Pakistan was facing different threats. These were deforestation, pollution, population, over exploitation of natural resources, invasive alien species, environmental problems and population pressure.

In order to protect the biodiversity for future generations in Pakistan, he recommended practical measures, such as reforestation to control pollution and population and using renewable energy.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2010.