Plastic pollution poisoning oceans, says Mushahidullah

Islamabad : Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahidullah Khan called for measures against the growing plastic pollution saying it is poisoning oceans and land, injuring marine life, and adversely affecting people's health.

In an Earth Day message, the minister said public life depended on biological diversity.

He said species and ecosystems were disappearing at an unsustainable rate and the people were responsible for it.

"We stand to lose a wide variety of environmental goods and services that we take for granted.

The consequences for economies and people will be profound," he said.

The minister said with the present approach to development, we had caused the clearing of much of the original forest, drained half of the world’s wetlands, depleted three quarters of all fish stocks, and emitted enough heat-trapping gases to keep the planet warming for centuries to come.

"We are increasingly risking the loss of the very foundation of our own survival," he said.

The minister said the variety of life on the planet gave the people food, clothes, fuel, medicine and much more. He said the day was an opportunity to stress the importance of natural resources for human well-being, reflect on our achievements to safeguard it.

The Earth Day is observed on April 22 every Year.

This year, it, carrying the 'end plastic pollution' theme, is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally change human attitude and behaviour about plastics.