ISLAMABAD, May 11: Federal Minister for Environment Tahir Iqbal has said his ministry has envisaged around 150 projects worth Rs21.7 billion for the next five years. He was speaking at the inaugural session of the strategic country environmental assessment national stakeholder conference, organized by the World Bank and the ministry, here on Wednesday.

The minister said the projects would cover environmental issues ranging from the provision of clean drinking water throughout the country to fighting the ever-increasing air and water pollutions.

The country is witnessing a booming economy which has its own negative and positive impacts. With the increased industrialization all over the country, water contamination and air pollution are also on the rise, he said.

“We have to make it sure that development, poverty alleviation and environmental conservation go side by side,” he said.

“I have already suggested to the federal and provincial governments that new industries should be set up in areas where relatively poor people are living.”

The minister said to effectively address environmental concerns, the prime minister had directed that no project, developmental or industrial, should be allowed until it got mandatory Environment Impact Assessment.

The government has already unveiled national environment and forest policies for public comments. So far, the ministry has received over 170 suggestions which will be incorporated in the policies, he added.

The ministry is also working on a national sanitation policy, which will be focussing on human waste management, he said.

Another important aspect, the minister said, was creating awareness among the masses about environment issues. In this regard, the environment ministry in collaboration with the ministry of education will introduce chapters in the national curricula from class 1 to 10.

Adviser to the Sindh chief minister on environment Numan Saigol said lack of implementation of environmental laws was a major problem in the fight against polluters.

Environment tribunals were set up in 1999 at the provincial capitals.

He also called for strengthening of provincial environmental protection agencies so that they could take legal actions when required.