TAXILA: Pakistan is ranked fifth on the climate change index, which is why the government has developed multiple strategies to tackle the effects of natural disasters, particularly in areas prone to extreme weather conditions, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said on Monday.

Speaking to the press in Hassanabdal, Mr Aslam said the government has included the element of disaster risk reduction in the planning of development projects for the first time in history. He added that under the Protected Areas Initiative, measures are being taken to improve environmental governance, management, financing and conservation activities on about 7,200 square kilometres.

To a question on recent political developments, Mr Aslam said that the opposition’s anti-government public rallies do not pose a threat to the government, and they have begun their anti-government campaign to hide their corruption.

He said the government would complete five years in power and there was no chance that premature elections would be held. He added that if the opposition resigns, by-elections will be held on the vacant seats. He said that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had fled the country on the pretext of illness and was now spewing venom against state institutions.

He also claimed that the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s alliance would fall apart in the upcoming weeks, calling the alliance “unnatural and against each others’ interests”.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2020