LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday directed the federal government to submit a report about the implementation of the National Climate Change Policy devised to meet challenges of climate change.

Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing a public interest petition filed by an agriculturalist, Asghar Leghari.

The petitioner stated that federal and provincial governments and the authorities concerned were not taking steps to develop the required resilience to climate change as per the “Framework for Implementation of National Climate Change Policy, 2013”.

The petitioner, relying on the National Climate Change Policy (“NCCP”) issued by the Ministry of Climate Change in 2012, highlighted the serious threats to Pakistan as a consequence of climate change.

He submitted that the most immediate and serious threat to Pakistan was that of water security and food security.

He said priority items under the Framework, 2013 had not been complied with and no action had been taken by the respective authorities to develop adaptive capacity and resilience to address climate change.

Justice Shah observed: “It appears that the most serious threat faced by Pakistan is that of climate change.”

He issued notices to the government ministries concerned with direction to a standing counsel to ensure appearance of their representatives before court on Sept 4.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2015

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