Active community participation key to cleaner environment: PA Speaker

LAHORE:Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan urged that the effective climate action must originate at the grassroots level, driven by active and inclusive community participation.

PA speaker commended the efforts of the government and reaffirmed its commitment to building a cleaner and healthier Punjab. He said the Provincial Assembly remained fully committed to supporting sustainable development initiatives and achieving the complete elimination of plastic use across the province."

Malik Ahmad Khan was speaking at a programme organised by the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) in collaboration with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab and AGAHE to observe the World Environment Day 2025 under the project "Restoring Social Services & Climate Resilience project".

The event was held under the theme: “Mobilising Communities, Women, and Youth for a Plastic-Free Future (Ending Plastic Pollution)”, focusing on raising awareness about the harmful effects of plastic pollution and the need to transition towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.

Parliamentary Secretary for Environment Kanwal Liaqat stressed the need of empowering women and youth to lead the fight against plastic pollution. Ending plastic waste is not just an environmental need, it is a social justice issue, she observed.

She said the Punjab government is committed to stronger environmental policies. Let us all build awareness in every household and I believe that together, we can shape a plastic-free Punjab. She shared that the companies not producing plastic bags according to government specification will be banned.

Dr M Abdullah Avais from AGAHE and Dr Asadullah from PPAF highlighted the impact of RSS & CR project in Kasur and Okara. They shared that AGAHE with the support of PPAF has converted the four BHUs and eight schools on solar energy. The speakers commended PPAF and AGAHE for their efforts in tackling environmental challenges at the grassroots level.

They stressed the urgent need to expand climate-resilient and sustainable development initiatives throughout Punjab, especially those that empower women, youth, and marginalised communities to help build a cleaner, greener future.