KARACHI: Environment deptt signs accord with Suparco
KARACHI, Aug 2: The Sindh Environment and Alternative Energy Department have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), which will enable it to utilize expertise and data of Suparco for improving environment and conducting research before launching any programme.
The ceremony was held at a local hotel, here on Tuesday.
Suparco Chairman Maj-Gen (retd) Raza Hussain and Environment Secretary Shamsul Haq Memon signed the MoU in the presence of Sindh Adviser on Environment Noman Saigol.
Speaking on the occasion, the adviser said that his department focused on the protection of atmosphere, integrated approach towards planning and management of land resources, combating deforestation, managing fragile ecosystems, desertification, promoting sustainable and rural development, and conservation of biological diversity.
“We also endure to protect sea and coastal areas beside promotion and development of their living resources, protection of quality and supply of freshwater resources, application of integrated approaches to the development. Our department also cover environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes, sound management of solid wastes and sewage,” he added.
Mr Saigal said that collaboration of the environment and alternative energy department at this stage would prove extremely beneficial for the improvement of the environment and establishing baseline data for the promotion of renewable.
Suparco will collaborate with the environment department in the fields of environment, GIS, IT, renewable resources, organizing symposiums, workshops and seminars; he maintained and also lauded the cooperation of Suparco.
In his remarks, Suparco Chairman Raza Hussain said his organization would extend its services in areas including air, water and soil analysis and lab support, environmental audit of industrial units, environmental impact assessment of various projects and industrial site selection, hazardous waste management, guidance for land use and transportation planning, preparing wind map of Pakistan for determining potential sites for wind power generation, determining cloudy or cloud free areas of country for solar power generation, prediction or monitoring of hazards like drought, cyclone, earthquake, flood, oil spill etc, disaster management planning and preparedness for coastal areas and applications of satellite remote sensing and GIS.
“This MoU will be another milestone in Suparco’s endeavours to undertake projects which contribute directly or indirectly to the socio-economic uplift of the people of Pakistan,” he added.
Earlier, Secretary Environment Shamsul Haq Memon said Suparco would collaborate in projects of environment and alternative energy for conducting studies and preparing schemes in various environment related subjects.
The director of EPA Iqbal Saeed also spoke on the occasion.
Suparco Director-General Arshad H. Siraj, Secretary Shamim Manazir, Suparco Director Dr Badar Munir Ghauri, deputy directors of EPA Naeem Mughal and Irfanullah Tunio were also present on the occasion. — PPI
