ISLAMABAD, Sept 11: Federal Minister for Environment Maj (retired) Tahir Iqbal on Saturday said environment-related subjects would be introduced in school curriculum after consultation with the ministry of education.

He stated this while inaugurating a one-day workshop on "Promotion of environmental issues through social mobilization, interpersonal communication and advocacy", organized by Islamabad Resource Centre of the National Conservation Strategy of the ministry of environment.

Mr Iqbal said environment awareness related subjects would be helpful in sensitising the students community and would also highlight the environmental issues.

He said a strategy would be evolved in order to provide job opportunities to those who had received degrees in environment related subjects. At present, he said, there were about six or seven universities which offered degrees in environment sciences, but the country was yet to utilise their services due to unavailability of jobs.

"We should benefit from the ideas of those who hold degrees in environmental sciences," he said.

The minister said all other ministries, including that of agriculture, would have to collaborate with the ministry of environment while launching projects in order to ensure that the schemes were environment friendly.

Mr Iqbal said despite the fact that in the devolution plan districts had been empowered to launch developmental projects, the environment situation was yet to see any improvement at the gross-roots level.

He said various groups, including students, teachers and ulema, would be used for promoting the cause of environment. The ulema, he said, had a greater potential of causing social mobilisation and bringing positive behavioural changes among the people by making them abide by environmental laws.

The industrial workers, he said, should be apprised of the judicious use of water and segregation of garbage.

Secretary Environment Javed Hasan Aly said effective communication was imperative for creating public awareness of the benefits and vitality of a clean environment.

Deputy Secretary National Conservation Strategy Shehar Bano Walajahi highlighted the objectives of the workshop. Representatives from various government departments and NGOs attended the programme.