Govt striving to protect environment: minister

Islamabad

Federal minister for climate change Zahid Hamid said the government was committed to the cause of environmental protection and was making every effort for it.

He was speaking at a world Environment Day function organised by his ministry at a local hotel in collaboration with the SAARC Energy Centre.

The minister said the Environment Day was celebrated in Pakistan with great zeal and enthusiasm every year.

He said although Pakistan Environment Protection Ordinance was promulgated in 1983, it was after the National Conservation Strategy’s approval in 1992 when environmental issues began receiving proper attention.

The minister said the national conservation strategy prepared after a long consultative process with all stakeholders helped spread public awareness of environmental challenges confronting the country, including air and water pollution, land degradation and lack of sanitation and waste management.

He said the next significant development on the front was the passage of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 by parliament after an extensive consultative process. The minister said Pakistan was an active participant of COP-21 and COP-22.

“We ratified the Paris agreement and submitted well-researched intended nationally determined contributions; parliament passed the landmark Pakistan Climate Change Act; the National forest Policy has been approved by the Council of Common Interest, and Green Pakistan Programme is being implemented fast,” he said.

The minister said Pakistan was blessed with a wide range of ecosystem and habitat ranging from K2 in the north to the Arabian Sea in the south.

“Because of the diverse topography and climatic conditions, these habitats support a large number of species many of which are of global significance. Four ecosystems of Pakistan are included in the global 200 most biologically outstanding Eco regions of the world,” he said.

The minister said the General Assembly had urged governments and UN organisations to undertake worldwide activities for environmental protection. It has not only generated political will for formulation of plans and policies to tackle these issues nut it has also brought about changes in the people’s consumption habits,” he said.

The event was attended by foreign diplomats, senior government officials and representatives of international organisations.