PAKISTAN is amongst the most vulnerable nations that are facing the adverse effects of climate change.

The country has suffered within a span of weeks a heat wave in Karachi and a tornado in Peshawar. It is imperative for the government to take pragmatic measures to tackle the challenges of climate change and setup disaster management cells.

Planting tens of thousands of trees should be an essential goal. The government should also avoid short-term power relief measures, such as setting up coal-based power plants which will have a devastating effect on the environment and further aggravate the water crisis.

The Lahore Orange line metro train project will result in the felling of over 650 trees, which will further aggravate the metropolitan’s quality of air and will intensify summer heat.

Rana Umar Abrar

Gujranwala

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play