May 11, 2005	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 2, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, May 10: Gender justice which provides both men and women a level playing field for sustainable development is the need of the hour. This was the viewpoint shared by the participants at a workshop on “gender concepts in relation to environment and sustainable development”. The event was organized by the National Conservation Strategy Resource Centre (NCS-RC), federal environment ministry, here on Tuesday.

The objective of the workshop was to create awareness about degradation of natural resources and environment with regards to current economic development and its role in gender perspective.

Three main themes — gender participation in conservation of natural resources, gender and environmentally sustainable economic development and gender justice in environment — were discussed during the day-long workshop.

The participants were of the view that sustainable, environmentally safe development could only be achieved through a gender oriented approach by particularly recognizing the roles of disadvantaged groups in the utilization of natural resources.

State Minister for Environment Malik Amin Aslam Khan, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said gender justice had direct implications on environment and sustainable development.

Women are the direct victims of environmental and natural resources’ degradations. “If there is shortage of water, women have to travel to fetch it. In case of scarcity of firewood, it is women who look for alternatives,” the minister said.

Therefore, women, who constitute a major chunk of the work force in rural areas, must be made aware of conservation of environment and sustainable development, he added.

“Every time I go to a village, women seek provision of sui gas, which shows that they are facing problems in keeping their stoves burning,” he said.

With concerted efforts, women in rural areas can prove themselves to be greatest agents of change, and such workshops will go a long way in achieving such objectives, the state minister said.

“There is a great need to remove physical barriers such as adequate schooling facilities which hinder their active involvement in sustainable development,” he said.

The minister agreed to a suggestion made by Nazar Nigar, a known cartoonist, about creating awareness on environmental issues at primary school level through cartoons. Ms Nigar has worked out a book to create awareness among primary level students about environmental issues.

Higher Education Commission Executive Director Dr Suhail Naqvi, in his presentation, said: “We are empowering minds, not men or women, for sustainable development in the country.”

Poverty reduction is directly proportional to sustainable development and conservation of environment, which is possible only if the higher education sector has been well equipped by the government, Dr Naqvi said.

“The Higher Education Commission is paying special attention to the faculty development and creating an active linkage between industry and higher education institutions, the ED said.

In her opening remarks, NCS Deputy Secretary Sheher Bano highlighted the objectives of the workshop.

She said the main objective of incorporating gender theme in conservation of environment was to enable women and men perform their roles in the best cost-effective methods, leading to sustainable development leading and improvement in quality of life.