ISLAMABAD, Jan 24: World Conservation Union (IUCN) President Valli Moosa called on Acting President Mohammedmian Soomro here on Tuesday and discussed with him matters relating to reconstruction activities in the quake-devastated areas and the role of the IUCN.

Mr Moosa, who was heading a six-member delegation, told the acting president that they would visit the quake-devastated areas of Azad Kashmir and meet the local authorities to assess the impact of the earthquake on ecosystem with a view to see what type of projects IUCN could undertake in these areas.

He said IUCN intended to hold a conference of Asian environmental ministers in Pakistan in September.

Mr Soomro appreciated the initiatives taken by IUCN for the conservation of environment and said provision of shelter, food, medical facilities and other basic amenities of life to the elderly people and bringing them to the social net would greatly help in improving their quality of life.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Minister for Environment Tahir Iqbal, Mr Moosa said IUCN would be extending support to the ministry in organizing the Asian environment ministers’ conference in Pakistan.

The conference aims at identifying the key environmental issues of the region, highlighting the importance of environmental 0considerations to economic development and poverty alleviation and fostering greater cohesion among the countries for addressing environmental issues.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister said in the perspective of the devastating earthquake, the proposed conference would provide an opportunity to suggest ways to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.

He said the earthquake had resulted in huge environmental and ecological losses which severely impacted the lives of the people.

He said an amount of $21 million had been estimated by the UN Environment Programme for developing projects in this regard.

The minister apprised the delegation of the steps being taken for addressing the environment and ecological damages in the quake-affected areas.

He said under the afforestation project, fast growing and sunlight-tolerant species of trees would be planted for preventing further landslides and managing the huge amount of solid and hospital waste. He said recycling machines and incinerators would be provided to the areas for which funds were being mobilized from various sources.

He asked the IUCN president to support the ministry in these projects and also in arrangement of wood, iron sheets and some other quake-resistant material for the reconstruction purposes.

The IUCN chief underlined the need to consider environmental aspects of relief and rehabilitation work and offered IUCN’s expertise for addressing environmental damages through joint initiatives with the government.—APP