KARACHI: The Sindh government on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the World Wide Fund for Nature, Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) to provide technical support to run an awareness campaign to improve environment in the province.

Sindh Minister for Envir­onment and Coastal Develop­ment Ta­i­mur Talpur signed the MoU on behalf of the government.

According to the MoU, the WWF would provide technical support to the Sindh government through capacity building, high-tech equipment provision for measuring ambient air quality and helping it to run a mass awareness campaign at the provincial level.

Speaking on the occasion, Environment Secretary Lae­eq Ahmed said difficulties being faced by the department due to lack of high-tech equipment/gadgets and tec­h­nical human resources.

He emphasised the need for building partnership with well-cognizant national/international partners to meet modern-day challenges in the perspective of climate change and its impacts globally and locally.

He highlighted the role of WWF-Pakistan for its invaluable support to the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) to meet international standards to guard the environment and combat pollution.

WWF-Pakistan official Babar Khan appreciated the proactive approach of the officials for giving importance to the burning issue of environmental deterioration and climate change and inviting all stakeholders on board to resolve the issue.

He assured the minister of continuing support from WWF-Pakistan to tackle environmental hazards.

Terming the MoU as a step heralding a new beginning in conservation of environment, Minister Talpur expressed the hope that WWF-Pakistan will also extend its support to the department in the area of coastal management.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2018