KARACHI, Sept 22: Speakers at a seminar, on Monday, called for awareness among the masses especially stake-holders about environment issues along with increased research, professional development and coordination among various agencies to ensure environmental upgradation.

The seminar with the theme of “One step ahead building environment friendly projects” was organized by the National Highways Authority (NHA) in collaboration with Japan’s International Conservation Agency (JICA) here.

The adviser to chief minister on environment, Faisal Malik Gabol, noted that due importance had not been given to environmental concerns while formulating policies.

He also recommended maximum participation of the masses in improving environment, as economy of a country also owes to good environment conditions. He said that such seminars and workshops would help achieve the objective and emphasized media’s active role in this direction.

Mr Malik praised the NHA in developing communication network of the country and maintaining international standard of its projects. However, he said, the NHA must address the expected adverse impact on environment and point out ways to provide alternative or compensation to the stake-holders while planning its projects.

He said that he would give all support to the NHA in meeting environment concerns so that roads and highways could become safer, efficient and pollution free.

The beaches, affected by oil spill, were safe and within safety parameters, he said and expressed satisfaction that local experts and agencies were doing their best to mitigate the leftover effects of the oil spillage. He said that their recommendations had been supported by the international environment experts and institutions.

Mr Malik said that more steps were underway for cleansing the beaches, which included dumping of oil affected sand and its possible use in road construction.

“We are now waiting for test reports from the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) to go ahead,” he said.

Earlier, Project Director Lyari Expressway Muhammad Yousaf Barakzai read out welcome address on behalf of the NHA chairman.

In the welcome address, he stated that the authority had taken lead in addressing the environment concerns, as it had started social and environmental documentation of its all mega- projects. The NHA was conducting a series of seminars to spread environmental awareness, which reflected its commitment for delivering more environmental friendly projects in future and would enhance its institutional capacities, he added.

In his presentation, the deputy director environment of NHA, Mushtaq Khan Khakwani, said that the authority was working along with other government agencies to improve the environment.

He said that the key issues related to the NHA operations were air and noise pollution, loss of bio-diversity, threatening endangered species, stream and lake sedimentation, threatening cultural heritage, resettlement of people, safety, solid waste disposal and wetlands.

He said that the NHA was responsible for almost 8,845kms of National Highway and Motorways, which carried up to 75 per cent of the total road traffic in the country.

Asif Khawaja dwelt upon air quality in urban areas and transport planning while focusing on air pollution as an emerging environmental concern. He recommended that the provincial governments should strengthen vehicle inspection and examining departments in consultation with the Environment Protection Agencies (EPAs) and the Association of Road Users of Pakistan (ARUP) to ensure standard condition of tuned vehicles on roads. Besides, the sale of adulterated gasoline, diesel, CNG and LPG should be contained, he added.

He emphasized that weigh bridges should be set up on all highways and roads to check over-loading. The fuel substitution policy needed environmental initiatives for effective results, he observed.

Mr Asif said that the introduction of government subsidized Urban Transport Scheme with large fleet using clean fuel would reduce traffic burden from roads, which would improve air quality in various cities.

Rasheed M. Randhawa spoke on tree plantation policy for the national highway and motorways. He said that plantation would form an integral part of mega-projects of roads and local forest department would be requested to take over established plantation for subsequent management.

Speaking on overloading and road safety awareness, Director PROMARK Nawab Ali called for effective research on crash risks and cost effective measures. He said that effective public information campaigns should also be launched in this regard.

He said that road safety was a cross-sector issue, as it involved transportation, health and educational activities. He suggested to empower people of their own safety and educate and mobilize children as future community leaders.—APP