LAHORE: Speakers at a function on Tuesday urged future vision of ‘Green Cities’ with an aim to revive the ecology system by changing general lifestyle of people which should be more eco-friendly.

The Environment Protection Department held a consultative workshop on amendments to Punjab Environmental Protection Act 1997 besides celebrations of Earth Day at a local hotel.

Speaking on the occasion, environmental expert Prof A.R. Saleemi said some 180 countries or so were celebrating Earth Day around the globe on Tuesday.

He said Pakistan was a victim of noise, air pollution and there was a great need to work on the idea of Green Cities, a future vision when it came to healthy environment. He said ecology was in troubled times due to lifestyle and industrialisation.

He suggested that universities should introduce Green City idea to students. It was high time that the society conserved energy resources “and we should shift to solar energy.”

Highlighting flaws developed in the ecology of this region over the years, country head from International Union for Conservation of Nature Mehmood Akhtar Cheema pointed out the fast diminishing of white-beaked vultures which were considered natural scavengers of animal carcasses. He also pointed out exotic plantation in Islamabad which had given way to many problems.

Environment Secretary Anwar Rasheed throwing light on Earth Day agenda of EPD said this year’s theme was ‘Green Cities’. He said EPD was also working to make amendments to the Environmental Protection Act 1997 to make it more effective and devoid of any lacuna.

Environment Minister Shuja Khanzada said the department was aware of the challenges being faced by it in current times. He said efforts were being made to streamline things when it came to water contamination, improved solid waste management, deforestation and urbanisation.

Different stakeholders related to environment also submitted their recommendations on Environmental Protection Act 1997.

LWMC: Tree plantation, symbolic waste picking and a drawing competition besides an awareness walk was arranged by Lahore Waste Management Company at Lahore Zoo in connection with Earth Day celebrations on Tuesday.

Saplings were planted by Lahore Zoo Director Naeem Bhatti, LWMC Manager Communication Raza Khan, Albayrak Regional Manager Fareeha Shad, Lahore Zoo Deputy Director Mudassar Hassan, Education Officer Kiran Saleem, LWMC Assistant Managers Communication Umair Khan and Asad Ahmad besides social mobilizers.

An awareness walk and a symbolic waste picking activity was also conducted on the premises of Zoo in which students of University of Central Punjab, KIPS School System and students of other local educational institutions took part in the waste picking event.