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Thursday March 28, 2024

Seminar speakers call for effective waste management

By Muhammad Farooq
November 28, 2019

SWABI: The speakers at a one-day seminar in the University of Swabi on Wednesday stressed the need for joint efforts to raise awareness about effective use and management of waste to keep the environment clean and green.

The seminar on “Waste into Energy” was arranged by the Department of Environmental Sciences of the University of Swabi in collaboration with the Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialisation (ORIC) and district government, Swabi.

University of Swabi Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Imtiaz Ali Khan was the chief guest on the occasion, while Assistant Commissioner of Chota Lahor Sana Hafeez was the guest of honour.

Head of the Environmental Sciences Department Dr Nazish Huma Khan, Director ORIC, Dr Roidar Ali Shah, Shoaib Ahmad and Habibullah from EPA and Mohammad Ishaq from Water and Sanitation Services Company Mardan also spoke on the occasion.

Prof Imtiaz stressed the need for creating awareness among the masses about cleanliness and waste management. “We should be more careful about cleanliness as our religion is more specific about it and even cleanliness has been termed as part of our faith,” he added.

“The people take care of cleanliness in a personal capacity but when it comes to the society, everyone throws waste wherever he wants, resulting in serious environmental issues,” he maintained.

He announced to set up a diagnostic laboratory in the university to conduct tests of different materials about health, engineering and environment.

The laboratory would provide services on the pattern of standard laboratories like Punjab Forensic Sciences Agency, Lahore, Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) and UET, Peshawar.

Sana Hafeez said that the principle of “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” should be followed in true spirit to keep the environment clean and make effective use of waste of all kinds.

She said the solid waste could be reused productively, but proper attention should be focused on it.

Dr Nazish Huma said that waste should not be considered as a problem. She stressed the need for proper handling and disposal of solid waste.

“The situation in the country about an environmental issue and waste management is very poor,” she added.

The university envisions setting up an Environment Green Club with the support of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Similarly, the students of the university would be provided internship opportunities at the Water and Sanitation Services Company, Mardan, and EPA Peshawar.Later, Prof Imtiaz Khan gave away shields to those who spoke on the occasion.