Climate change serious threat to human life: PM Nawaz

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Climate change serious threat to human life: PM Nawaz

Dawn.com Published November 28, 2015

VALLETTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said climate change poses a serious threat to humans across the globe, reported Radio Pakistan.

While addressing the Commonwealth Summit on Climate Change in Malta, he said Pakistan experienced mighty floods in 2010 and 2011 owing to changing climate in the region. He called for provision of the latest technology and other resources for implementation of decisions during the conference in letter and spirit.

The premier said assistance should be provided to underdeveloped countries to overcome challenges faced due to climate change.

He said Pakistan was facing the brunt of climate change, adding that the Himalayan glaciers were melting faster than those in other parts of the world.

"We are adopting environment-friendly policies to overcome climate degradation."

Also read: Sharif, Cameron to work together for security, prosperity

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif also attended a banquet hosted by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II for the heads of government of Commonwealth countries and their spouses.

Begum Kulsoom Nawaz accompanied the premier at the dinner, which was also attended by members of the Royal family.

PM to attend UN Climate Change Conference in Paris

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will attend the opening ceremony of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris on Monday.

Briefing newsmen in Islamabad about the mega event, Minister for Climate Change Zahid Hamid said the prime minister will also deliver a speech at the Leaders Event that day.

He said during the Paris conference Pakistan will highlight its vulnerability to the prevailing and future threats emanating from climate change.

Also read: ‘Pakistan’s role in upcoming climate change most vital’

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Afzaal Ansari

Nov 28, 2015 01:39pm

indeed, the swiftly melting of glaciers in Pakistan has imperative impact with the national climate that will affect the life of the surrounding people.

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flipflop

Nov 28, 2015 01:58pm

I think Pakistan just entered the 21st century. * slow claps *... Without PML-N we couldn't have made it to this century..

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Ankara

Nov 28, 2015 01:59pm

Priority is power and energy fulfilment in Pakistan. All these nations talking about global warming now have polluted the world enough during industrial revolutions. Do not forget the end game, no power in Pakistan means end of economic prosperity.

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Malik Achakzai

Nov 28, 2015 02:00pm

No doubt Climate Change a threat to Pakistan demography and development of the country. The 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013 and now 2015 earth quakes and floods have caused destruction of human lives, infrastructure, affected the economies of the ground level masses. But no practical steps are taken on ground; this will make Pakistan face these natural disasters till it loss a bigger portion of its population. And then we'll wait for international community to work with us from the beginning. PM Sharif and his government should adopt policy over the climate change threats as our glaciers are already melt and we would have no drinking water in near future as well as the population on our coastal belt is facing threats to their livelyhoods and their food. As most of them depend on the sea-food and their crops beside the rivers; that are taken away by flooding water and the size up of ocean. At the same time the increase in temperature and lesser production are food security threats.

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Parvez

Nov 28, 2015 02:01pm

.....all talk but not action.....typical politicians stance.

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M. Asghar

Nov 28, 2015 02:04pm

The only practical way to confront the impact of the fast melting Himalayan glaciers is to build as many as possible water storing barrages, but this is not happening at present.

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Pakistan Zindabad

Nov 28, 2015 02:07pm

Yes these are measure ISSUES. On the other hand, Terrorism, immorality, Education, health care, lack of Law and Order etc are quite minor issues.

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Bilal Khan

Nov 28, 2015 02:07pm

He is following Imran Khan footsteps. If you're really serious than you should follow KPK govt in this regard. Please, we want billions of trees in Punjab.

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Yasmin

Nov 28, 2015 02:10pm

Indeed. Why have you ordered coal powered stations from the Chinese and you say climate change is serious A stupid decision ?

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T_Khan

Nov 28, 2015 02:14pm

If only the prime minister instead of travelling by air enters his proud city of Lahore by road he might understand his own statement. I am sure the people living their also account for as "human life"

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Truth

Nov 28, 2015 02:19pm

yes please Mr. PM. : Kindly remove dirty dirty smokes from the factories near lahore KalaShahKaku and inside lahore after evening. there are lot of Hidden factories in the streets along Multan road.

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Ali S

Nov 28, 2015 02:19pm

What a pleasant surprise - our PM actually talking about things that matter instead of the next road, highway, metro or other concrete monstrosity.

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ZAK

Nov 28, 2015 02:20pm

Mind your own business Nawaz.You are highly incompetent and corrupt businessman statement won't work for tomorrow.

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Bhittani

Nov 28, 2015 02:56pm

@Bilal Khan IK Millions Tree are only Facebook Talks

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Riaz

Nov 28, 2015 03:24pm

Climate change is a serious threat, no doubt about it, but it only becomes a real threat when nothing is done by way of building dams and reservoirs. When the rulers do not do anything, they are aiding and abetting the threat. On top, when the rulers loot the money which should be spent on defenses against the threat, it becomes a crime against the masses. When rulers use the constitution to protect their loot, plunder and total disregard for the welfare the masses, and the same masses keep voting them in to power time and again, it becomes a mother of all threats.

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Riaz

Nov 28, 2015 03:25pm

@flipflop Pakistan has entered the 21st century, but the masses and their mindset hasn't moved a day beyond the era of feudalism.

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FirstLast2016

Nov 28, 2015 03:27pm

@Yasmin Spot on.

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Abdul Basit

Nov 28, 2015 04:14pm

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Should stop developing coal based electricity plants if he is serious about climate change. Pakistan can have Solar, wind or Hydroelectric plants to preserve the environment and the health of its people.

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Muhammad

Nov 28, 2015 04:16pm

Corruption and bad grovernce are real threat to human life!

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Hanif

Nov 28, 2015 04:24pm

What a joke. I travelled to most cities in Pakistan and the fumes from most old cars are poisoning the environmental, bad for people's health and the places people live in. Yet these old bangers are worth thousands of rupees due to the high taxes on vehicles. Bring the prices of cars down dramatically, then make it illegal to transfer ownership of old cars, introduce MOT for all cars more than 5 years old, half of you problem resolved. Has anyone ever tested the air quality in Pakistani cities. This meeting in Paris is a farce. The PM is doing nothing home but talking nonsense. You see there is no tax or other money to be made from clean air we breath therefore keep fooling the Pakistani public.

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Nadir Abbas

Nov 28, 2015 04:39pm

Talk about climate change is in fashion!. Otherwise no one including first world is taking enough measures to stop it

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mohammed ahmed khan

Nov 28, 2015 04:41pm

but all preferences and concentration of budget is focused on vote oriented projects - metro and motorway...

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Muhammad Ismail

Nov 28, 2015 05:25pm

Good Mr. minister. in our country we need to be more focused on environmental issues..

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Rabindranath Tagore

Nov 28, 2015 05:27pm

You cannot fight the nature,you can only adopt measures to save yourself or contain damage to minimum,but you ofcourse eliminate corruption from or within our Pakistan society.

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M.Saeed

Nov 28, 2015 07:42pm

----and still you are aggravating the situation by adding lethal pollution to the atmosphere by making huge coal-burning power generation plants? Even you have done nothing to introduce incentives for hybrid automobiles like many countries have already introduced! What had been announced in the budget for custom duty rebates in importing hybrid cars, has not been implemented!

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balanpothan@gmail.com

Nov 28, 2015 07:52pm

Increasing temperature is not new to the planet. From ice age gradual increase in temperature was in progress. Unnecessary fear is produced by scientist about this natural phenomenon. Human life upon the planet is only a disease symptom and it will be removed when internal health of planet improves. According to Homeopathic theory , root cause of skin disease is internal health problem. When internal health improves skin disease also diminish. Better compare other healthy planets with the earth and a person with common sense can understand that planet earth is a patient. Every symptoms indicates that the planet is going back to health which means end of life upon the skin. Think about leading a happy life inside the planet.

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salman

Nov 28, 2015 08:37pm

@ZAK Respect him first. He is in respectable position.He is trying his best to make our country clean and green and pollution free

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Nabeel

Nov 28, 2015 09:14pm

@Abdul Basit Rightly said. How could NS talk like a professor on Climate change while developing Coal Based Power Plants dumped by the entire world many years ago. We are about 20 year behind on the Climate Change discussion and solutions.

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Abdul Basit

Nov 28, 2015 09:49pm

Coal based power plants destroy the health of the people in towns in close vicinity. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif does not care about the health of people living close to coal fired power generation plants.

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Nov 28, 2015 10:29pm

And what are doing about it Mr. Prime Minister. Inaugrating Coal based power plant and not doing anything to reduce carbon emission or Population control or building any water reservoirs or planting trees

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Truth

Nov 29, 2015 12:44am

Minister Hakan abbasi told himself on Captial talk with Hamid Mir that Pakistan and Somalia are the only countries which are importing worst grade fuel. This is the main problem. and refineries are not capable to purify better grade fuels if they import.

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Nov 29, 2015 01:33am

Really?! Wow! What a great discovery by the prime minister of pakistan.

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Muzaffar OKlahoma

Nov 29, 2015 01:37am

@Bhittani .U are wrong.Please check ur facts first.Billion tree plantations are well underway.

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Amir

Nov 29, 2015 01:57am

everyone knows. we expect actions from you Sir. How many dams are you seriously building. how many trees are you planting. what you are doing to pressure India to not stop Pakistan's share of water by building dams. what is your stategy against the floods. actions seems nil.

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Cyrus

Nov 29, 2015 02:07am

The answer to global warming would be for China, India and the USA to burn more natural gas in power plants than burning coal to generate electricity. Once the world solves the safety problem of using hydrogen gas to power cars and trucks it could easily be used in power plants. Hydrogen gas is 100% pollution free because it's only bi-product is pure water. The oil companies and coal companies are totally against converting to hydrogen gas because it would put them out of business.

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haider

Nov 29, 2015 02:29am

Sir you should focus on making committees and taking notices and leave these minor issues to the experts

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Munir

Nov 29, 2015 05:53am

@Parvez , the best phrase my friend is "All talk no trousers"

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zia

Nov 29, 2015 07:08am

what a joke, PM of pakistan talking about climate change? what he has done for it?

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Armghan Tahir

Nov 29, 2015 10:39am

build dams! its difficult to control pollution since most of our electicity is based on oil/petroleum... dams wud replace that need to use oil curbing the current pollution crisis

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Armghan Tahir

Nov 29, 2015 10:40am

build dams.. that way u bypass the use of oil to produce electricity which is the major source of pollution

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