ISLAMABAD, Sept 4: Transfer of technology at affordable costs was critical for sustainable development of developing countries.

This was stated by the minister for environment, local government, and rural development, Barrister Shahida Jamil in her speech at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) at Johannesburg, on September 3, 2002.

According to the text provided to Dawn, the minister called for removal of trade barriers between developed and developing countries which could also help save the precious natural resources and combat poverty in the world.

Both the private-public sectors were determined to work for the improvement of environment and sustainable development of developing countries but the required technologies for cleaner production needed heavy investment which was beyond the capacity of most developing countries.

She maintained that this could be achieved through meaningful and effective partnership between government, private sector, NGOs and other stakeholders.

“We are now keen on facilitating joint venture agreements between the government and private sectors-both foreign and local- with the objective to set up integrated solid waste treatment plants for domestic, industrial and hazardous waste under Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis”, the minister said.

Commenting on the deteriorating water resources of Pakistan, she informed the participants that the permanent loss of three major rivers in 1960, deforestation and six years of continued drought have contributed to the phenomenon.