QUETTA: Speakers at a consultative session on climate change stressed the need for adopting a comprehensive and meaningful policy for the protection of environment from deterioration.

The session on Tuesday was organised by the Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC) in collaboration with the ministry of climate change and the environment department.

Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai was the chief guest at the programme. Those who attended the programme included Adviser to Chief Minister on Environment, Forests and Lives­tock 0baidullah Babit, Secretary Environment Ghulam Muhammad Sabir, Director General of Environ­ment Protection Agency (EPA) Tariq Zehri, policy makers, government officials, members of the civil society, researchers, academics, private sector and media representatives.

Mr Achakzai said that an immediate policy was needed for the protection of the environment from the negative impact of climate change. He said scientists and economists in 19th and 20th centuries succeeded in making huge strides in science, economy and industrialisation while the world faced serious issues of global warming and climate change. These issues, he added, should be resolved through the implementation of Paris Accord, to which Pakistan was a signatory.

However, federal and provincial governments were taking steps to implement the accord, Mr Achakzai said, adding that the provincial government was making efforts for the protection of forests and plantation of new trees every year.

The NGOs, he said, could play an important role in creating awareness about global warming and climate change. He suggested construction of small dams for increasing the underground water-table to protect the agriculture.

CSCCC Chief Executive Aisha Khan thanked the provincial government for holding the event.

She described the purpose of CSCCC as a networking platform for climate action all across the country.

Environmental expert Saadullah Ayaz who was representing the ministry of climate change described the importance of the event and the vulnerability of the country to climate change.

Obaidullah Babit said that creating awareness about the environment and climate change was an encouraging concept, since knowledge among the masses on such issues was incredibly low.

Secretary Environment and Forest Ghulam Sabir and Director General of EPA, Balochistan, Tariq Zehri suggested different measures for the protection of environment.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2017