Experts discuss methods to mitigate climate change effects

LAHORE: Experts discussed methods to mitigate the effects of climate change during a session titled Policy Dialogue on Climate Change: Resilience and Financing on Wednesday.

P&D Board chairman Iftikhar Ali Sahoo presided over the session. The speakers shared their views about the reasons for climate change and suggested ways to deal with its harmful effects on humans and habitat. According to them, the unpredictable nature of heavy rains, droughts, floods, smog, and pest invasions are the main syndromes of this havoc. The P&D Board chairman welcomed the distinguished speakers and participants and said climate change has badly impacted our day-to-day lives. He gave examples of present smog conditions in Lahore and its adjacent areas. He said it is a crucial issue therefore, we should take immediate steps to curb it, and for the said purpose, we are contacting all pertinent environmental stakeholders to create concrete policies that would prove helpful for reducing environmental challenges at the operational level.

He maintained the government of Punjab is taking serious steps to curb the issue by introducing revolutionary initiatives in transport, agriculture, industry, and other departments concerned. H.E. Dr Riina Kionka, EU Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan via zoom joined the session, Prof Dr Sajid Rashid Ahmad, Dean, Faculty of Geo-Sciences, University of the Punjab, Muhammad Omar Masud, CEO Urban Unit, Rashid Kamal-ur-Rehman, Secretary Environment Protection Department, government of the Punjab, Baptist Chetre, Project Director, GIZ, Prof Dr Tahir Hasan, Associate Professor, Director, LUMS project, Prof Dr Nadeem Javed SI, Professor, Karachi School of Business and Leadership, former Chief Economist, Planning Commission of Pakistan, Tobias Haq, Lead Country Economist, World Bank, Secretary Finance, Government of the Punjab, Prof Dr Ijaz Nabi, Country Director, IGC Pakistan, Fahad Arshad, Vice President, Coca Cola Pakistan, Dr Yaqoob Khan Bangash.