High death rate linked to ignorance

LAHORE
Substandard food and lack of awareness about health facilities and hygiene principles are the causes behind high death rate in Pakistan while timely planning and actions can protect people and crops against adverse effects of climate change.
These views were expressed by the experts in Jang Economic Session on ‘Climate change impact on social life’. The panellists were Muhammad Riaz Khan, Dr Abu Fazal, Dr Aysha Azam, Qalb-e-Abid, and Mohsin Bhatti while hosted by Sikandar Lodhi. Muhammad Riaz Khan said fog increased due to low temperature and cold wave. He said duration of fog was increasing in Punjab due to industrial pollution and negative temperature which was the cause of harsh winter. He said fog would reduce by the third week of January while rain would start in February and March while low rain was expected in Sindh and Balochistan too. He said severe cold weather was affecting wheat sowing and other crops.
Dr Abu Fazal said that lack of awareness about health and hygiene principles was the cause of high death rate in country. He said people were suffering from viral infections and other diseases due to harsh winter while stomach infection was also on the rise due to substandard food. He said timely planning and actions could save people and crops from adverse effects of the climate change.
Dr Aysha Azam said environmental pollution caused by industries worsened the adverse effects of dry weather increasing allergy and infections in children. She said shortage of gas and electricity aggravated the situation. She said cancer and other dangerous diseases were on the rise due to global warming and industrial pollution and to counter it everyone should play his due role in it.
Qalb-e-Abid said fog and harsh winter adversely affected social activities. He said environmental pollution was increasing the fog duration and paralysing social life and economic activities by halting transportation. He called for use of proper diet and clothing for protection against harsh winter.
Mohsin Bhatti said public was in depression due to artificial shortage of basic necessities while LPG mafia was making bucks by increasing its prices. He said the government was aware of the problems created every year with the harshness of weather but did not take steps to resolve them permanently.