ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Climate Change met Tuesday to review operational and enforcement issues related to climate change governance.

The meeting, chaired by Member National Assembly (MNA) Munaza Hassan, focused discussion on training, inter-agency coordination and enforcement measures, while also addressing critical gaps in representation at key briefings.

A significant point of concern raised during the meeting was the absence of both the chairman and member (environment) of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) during the scheduled briefing.

The committee expressed strong reservations over the absence of CDA leadership at the meeting, noting that their presence was crucial for effective coordination and accountability in managing urban environmental challenges.

The briefing on CDA’s waste disposal and solid waste management strategies was deferred due to their absence, with explicit instructions that both the CDA chairman and the environment department representative must attend the next meeting.

Other agenda items included a detailed review of previous recommendations concerning the Climate Resilient Urban Human Settlements Unit, with queries raised over the selection criteria for trainees and the geographic representation from regions like AJK, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The committee also discussed progress on initiatives such as rainwater harvesting in Karachi, glacier preservation efforts and the coordination of global observances like World Forests Day.

Additionally, the Inspector General of Motorway Police provided a briefing on anti-burning enforcement measures, reporting that 17 FIRs had been lodged and over 53,957 farmers had been briefed on the matter.

However, the committee noted that investigative powers for stubble burning within fenced areas remained with provincial authorities, complicating enforcement efforts.

The Judicial Water and Environmental Commission had received 173 reported cases.

The committee urged stronger inter-agency coordination to ensure consistent application of penalties.

Further discussions included concerns over delays in expert recruitment for the Integrated Waste Management Board (IWMB) and inadequate readiness to address urban renovation issues, particularly in areas vacated by restaurants.

The status of the Pakistan Climate Change Authority and persistent water issues, including those affecting the Recharge Pakistan project, were also deliberated, with plans set for a dedicated meeting on water challenges in the next session.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2025