National Forest Policy finalised, Climate Change Authority to be set up soon

LAHORE: Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Environment Syed Rizwan Mahboob has said that the Climate Change Authority will be established soon while the National Forest Policy has also been finalised.

Addressing the first-ever international conference on “Emerging Trends in Earth and Environmental Sciences (ETEES) 2017” organised by the Punjab University’s College of Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES) here on Thursday, he said the government would give preference to academic research while shaping environmental policies. He said concrete steps were being taken to face environmental challenges. 

PU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir, CEES  Principal Prof Dr Sajid Rashid, noted scientists and environmentalists from the US, Germany, Canada, Sweden and other foreign countries, researchers from different parts of the country, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion. 

Syed Rizwan Mahboob said there were three types of experts doing research on environment and one predicted doomsday scenario in near future, one segment of researchers termed it a mere hoax and exaggeration while one type of experts was working on empirical evidences. He said, "We must focus on the research work of these researchers."

He said Pakistan was facing four serious environment challenges; deforestation, suffering of agricultural land, water scarcity/unavailability of potable water and growing energy demand. "We must work on green energy options and focus on disaster risk management." He said every citizen of the country should be aware of the effects of climate change.  

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Prof Dr Erik Bongcam Rudloff said his university would like to work with the PU in the emerging field of bioinformatics. He said under the venture, new dimensions of agriculture, medical, environment and other fields would be explored. 

Foreign scientists, including Dr Martin, Dr Batina and Dr Akram, said it was good to know that research work was being done on environmental changes in Pakistan, and health and safety programmes being introduced at the college. 

Prof Dr Sajid Rashid said for the first time in the history of the college, an international conference had been organised.  Earlier, Prof Dr Erick Bongcam Rudloff and Dr Batina called on PU VC Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir. The VC expressed his profound interest in launching degree-level programme in the field of bioinformatics at PU. The meeting discussed various areas of mutual interest in this regard and collaboration between the PU and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.