PESHAWAR, March 28: The provincial government has established environment protection committees in all districts that would work under the supervision of Nazims, NWFP Environment Minister Abbas Khan said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a consultative workshop organized by the environment ministry and the International Union for Conservation of Nature-Pakistan in Abbottabad, he said the district conservation strategies would provide the most effective means to implement the devolution plan in the province.

According to a press release, he said: “The district level environment protection committees would play a key role in adopting and implementing environmental policies and plans.”

The government, he added, was planning sessions for Nazims and Naib Nazims at the district, Tehsil and union council level so that they could  work effectively for environmental protection and sustainable development of their areas by involving the communities.

The workshop was part of a series of activities organised in various cities to prepare for  the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in South  Africa this year.

The participants were of the view that sustainable development warranted redress of issues at the local level and governance in the form of devolution provided a tool to do the same.