KARACHI, April 4: A seminar on “Impact of environmental pollution on health, economy and natural resource management” began at Karachi University (KU) on Monday. The two-day moot is being organized by KU and Pakistan Society for Micro Biology (PSM) in collaboration with ministry of environment. Minister of State for Enivornment Amin Aslam Khan was the chief guest at the inaugural session.

Speaking on the occasion, he stressed that every one should contribute towards bringing about the required improvements in the environment and to help tackle the problem of pollution.

He said that the stakeholders as well as the civil society should play its due role towards helping the government in tackling the issue of environmental pollution.

The minister said that the present government was fully committed towards the improvement in environment.

He pointed out that all the public sector development projects in future would go to the planning division which would carry out the environmental impact assessment study.

Mr Khan said that later we would ask the private sector to follow the suit so that the environmental assessment study was also carried out in case of their projects as well.

He stressed that the civil society should also play its role towards the improvement of the environment.

Earlier, in her welcome address, the Chairperson of the Department of Microbiology, University of Karachi, Prof Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi, highlighted the significance of environment on the health of the human beings and the economy of the country.

She said that we need a healthy atmosphere and healthy minds in order to help spur the development process in the country.

PSM President Prof Dr Essa M. Abdullah pointed out that according to the World Health Organization’s study 80 per cent of diseases around the globe were caused by polluted water.

The Dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Karachi, Prof Dr Mohammad Qaiser, also spoke on the occasion.

Organizing Secretary, Prof Dr Tasneem Adam Ali, presented the welcome address.

The minister also distributed shields, certificates and prizes on the occasion.

The seminar was being attended by public and private sector organizations, representatives of EPA and Ministry of Environment.

The seminar includes a comprehensive scientific program which consists of plenary lectures, round table discussions and oral presentation, addressing environmental issues. — APP