KARACHI: Individual’s role stressed in upgrading environment
By Mukhtar Alam
KARACHI, June 5: Speakers at various functions and seminars held on Monday to mark the World Environment Day stressed the need for the policies seeking individual’s role in ensuring a clean and healthy living environment.
Observed on June 5 every year, the Day mobilises governments and NGOs, politicians and planners, as well as individuals, to renew their pledge and efforts towards cleansing and protecting environment from pollution, ecological destruction, degradation, etc.
Addressing such a seminar, organised by the departments of Geology and Geography at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Vice-Chancellor Dr Iqbal Mohsin said that environmental problems could be divided in two categories -- local and international -- but citizens should pay immediate attention to local issues and get them resolved with the motto being ‘act locally’.
He said people should take measures like controlling tree-felling, making traffic system more efficient, discouraging dumping of waste at non-designated sites and ensuring treatment of water. We should think and work all out against all sorts of pollution, he remarked.
Chairman of the Geology Department Prof Tasleem Ashraf said that dumping of waste should be carried out on scientific lines.
Dr Moinuddin of Botany department underscored the need for imposing a ban on polythene bags. Counting the values of recycling of wastes, he said that sorting of garbage should be started in different parts of the metropolis to promote the process. He said workshops on environment should be conducted to create awareness among children.
Chairman of Geography Department Prof Shamim Haider said that on the eve of the World Environment Day, people should be sensitised on environmental problems as it was necessary for the success of any campaign or move in this regard. Prof Mohammad Azam, Prof Shazia Naz, Prof Aftab Alam, Prof Salimuddin, Prof Seema Naz, Prof Javed Iqbal and Amarah Farooq also spoke at the seminar.
At another seminar, which was attended, among others, by dry lands experts and scientists from water, power, agriculture, environment, social sector, academic institutions and other relevant stakeholders, the nexus between dry lands rehabilitation and poverty alleviation was highlighted.
The seminar, on ‘Drylands Rehabilitation – Poverty Alleviation’, was organised by the Foundation for Progress, in collaboration with the Sindh Environment and Alternate Energy Department, at the DA Creek Club.
Hashim Leghari, Secretary P&D Department, said that 48 per cent of Sindh lands was arid, and spread over 68,000 square kilometres, its population was badly stricken by poverty with no surface water available to them. With very poor health and education facilities, the situation was leading to a rise in migratory trends in these areas.
Fazlur Rehman Siddique, Member Federal IRSA, said that transparent and equitable distribution of water among the four provinces of the country and the need for effective water resource, conservation and management, including the utilisation of water reservoirs, should be viewed from a broad perspective of alleviating poverty and preventing further desertification of the dry lands.
Mohammad Iqbal Dewan, Secretary Environment & Alternate Energy, proposed that the environmental protection and conservation be taken seriously at all levels of the society.
Convener of the seminar Dr M. A. Wajid said that the dry lands of Pakistan were undergoing degradation known in the scientific terms as ‘desertification’ which resulted from climatic variations and human activities. The situation is likely to worsen with high population growth rates, deficit water resources and unsustainable practices. This could be addressed with our involvement in it and by finding new ways to resolve our problems.
A. N. G Abbasi, Sardar Ahmed Mughal and NPA Idrees Siddiqui also spoke at the seminar.
The Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi, organised a special lecture on the World Environment Day theme “Don't Desert Drylands” on the campus to mark the occasion.
Dr Moazzam Ali Khan, In-charge of the Institute, highlighted the achievements of his organisation and its future strategy for developing environmental awareness system at the grassroots level, as well as at the professional level.
Referring to the theme, former director of the institute Dr M. Altaf Khan suggested that a meaningful and practical strategy for water conservation and recycling be developed in order to prevent desertification of dry lands.
During the discussion, faculty members of the Institute pledged to enhance environmental awareness that is necessary to ensure reorientation of modern civilisation for achieving reconciliation with Nature, instead of appearing to be in conflict with it, said a communication.
At another seminar, Romis Ali said that pollution was very harmful to health, safety and welfare of people, as well as living species.
Nadia Khaliq said that concrete measures should be taken to ensure clean environment.
As part of World Environment Day programmes, the SEPA held theatres for students of five schools of City District Government Karachi.
