January 2, 2003	Thursday	Shawwal 28, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 1: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must be strengthened for effective enforcement of national environmental quality standards and national environmental act as this agency has a major role to play in environmental protection.

This was stated by the minister of state for environment, Tahir Iqbal, during a briefing at Pak-EPA in Islamabad.

The minister appreciated the role played by the EPA, but said a more effective and pro-active approach was required for providing cleaner environment to the people.

He said environment sector was not given a true focus in the past as the policy makers and public failed to realize the direct relationship between environment and health.

The minister said all stakeholders involved in the sector, including industrialists and general public, needed to be convinced that if they invest in environment, it would be for their own benefit as clean environment was not a luxury, but a basic right.

An effective mass media campaign will soon be launched to educate the masses, specially the school-going children, on environmental issues, he added.