06 June 2004	Sunday	17 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, June 5: The World Wildlife Fund, Pakistan, on Saturday, organized an event in connection with the World Environment Day, to discuss various environmental challenges and find remedies to these issues , at its Wetland Centre at Sandspit.

On the occasion, certificates were distributed among the children from 25 schools of the City District Government, for their activities aimed at creating awareness about environmental issues, which included making of posters on threats to environment and writing of essays on the issue, besides plantation of mangroves at various coastal sites adopted by the WWF.

The WWF, in collaboration with the Sui Southern Gas Company, had launched the awareness programme, involving 25 city government schools from different areas of the city.

City nazim's adviser Naseem Siddiqui underlined the need for promoting environmental awareness among children and teachers, besides other stake-holders.

Mr Siddiqui, on behalf of the CDGK, assured all out help to the organizations working on the vital issues like environment.

SSGC General Manager Muhammad Arif announced that the company would donate 10,000 saplings for plantation at the CDGK-run schools.

WWF Deputy DG Dr Aijaz Ahmed, speaking on environmental threats, particularly on ocean and sea degradation, urged various organizations to join hands to find solution to these challenges, as the task was beyond the scope of any single organization.

In charge, CDGK's environment department, Nuzhat Siddiqui, gave details of the city government's plan to improve city and sea environment.

PFF: The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum observed the World Environment Day on Saturday at its secretariat, Sachal Hall, Ibrahim Hyderi, where a large number of people from fishing community, including men, women and children, had gathered to mark the day.

PFF chairman Mohammed Ali Shah said thatdraining of industrial waste into the sea was creating pollution, which had put the livelihood of fisherfolk communities at stake.

At the beginning of the programme, a documentary film, 'Sabir Machera Nahein Banana Chaheta' depicting the socio-economic problems of fishing communities was screened.

Ayoub Khaskheli, Tahira Ali,Yasmeen Ali, Mushtaq Babu, Jamila Lal, Sultan Mehmood and Akhtar Sheikh also spoke.-APP/PPI