GILGIT, Aug 16: Communications can be used to create awareness about key environmental issues, and effective communication strategies can help bring about a positive change in the people’s attitude towards environment.

Experts made these observations at a meeting here on Friday. The meeting reviewed a background paper on communications titled: “Northern Areas Strategy for Sustainable Development” (NASSD), prepared in collaboration with the Northern Areas Conservation Strategy (NACS).

The participants of the meeting were of the opinion that communication systems would be essential to foster a shared understanding of and support for sustainable development in the area.

They discussed the state of the region’s formal and non-formal communications sector, reviewed previous and ongoing activities and identified key issues and constraints being faced by the sector.

Press Information Department Director Nasir Khan highlighted the importance of communications as a process for social change and stressed the need for giving more priority to this sector to enhance the capacity of the communication-related people.