ISLAMABAD, July 24: The federal environment ministry on Monday approved 35 environmental projects that would be executed over the next five years at a cost of Rs3.6 billion.

The decision to this effect was taken at the third meeting of the programme steering committee of the National Environmental Action Plan-Support Programme (NEAP-SP). The meeting was presided over by environment secretary Javed Hasan Aly.

The ministry is implementing the NEAP-SP with the financial assistance of United Nations Development Programme and Economic Affairs Division.

The objective of NEAP-SP, which will be implemented in five years, is "environmental sustainability and poverty reduction in the context of economic growth".

The projects approved during the meeting included "Establishment of the national environmental information management system", "introduction of environmental accounting in the national accounting system", "integration of environment in the teacher training programmes of Allama Iqbal Open University", "establishment of cleaner production centres", "clean drinking water initiative", "conservation of fish biodiversity in River Swat," "national renewable energy technologies project", "environmental awareness in Balochistan" and "Rehabilitation of Hinna Lake Catchment Area".

The steering committee was informed that so far, the ministry and international donors had contributed $5 million and $1 million, respectively, towards implementation of various projects under NEAP-SP in the areas of clean drinking water, environmental education, capacity development, and desertification.

The committee was also told that negotiations were at an advanced stage with donors for contribution of another $2.5 million.

NEAP-SP proposes a wide range of technical, institutional, regulatory, social and economic interventions grouped under six major sub-programmes: policy coordination and environmental governance; pollution control; ecosystems management and natural resources conservation; energy conservation and renewables; dryland management and water conservation; support for grassroots initiatives.

Those who attended the steering committee meeting included Raja Raza Arshad, national programme director/additional secretary of environment ministry, and representatives of federal ministries, provincial governments, environment protection agencies, AJK, Northern Areas and the UNDP.

Several suggestions and comments were given by the participants of the meeting to further improve the projects. After incorporation of the suggested changes, these projects, approved by the programme steering committee, will be presented to the environmental donors for resources' mobilization.