KARACHI, June 2: The City Nazim, Niamatullah Khan, on Thursday dispelled the impression that water scarcity was the major cause restricting the transformation of Karachi into a green city. He believed water was available in bulk, but there were flaws in the system.

If trees were not planted and greenery not promoted, it was only because we had failed to reach a consensus on the distribution of water, he added.

The nazim was speaking at a seminar on ‘Promoting Parks as Urban Generators’, organized by the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) at its library in connection with the UN World Environment Day on June 5.

He said the city government had made 300 parks in Karachi besides taking up mega projects like revamping of the Safari Park. The city government was developing underdeveloped parks as well

“Thousands of people were visiting these parks everyday, which rightly reflects the thirst of people for parks.”

“It was my utmost will to make Karachi greener and environment friendly,” he said, referring to the beginning of his tenure as city nazim.

He deplored that nearly 1,000 parks were encroached on.

Citing various road projects, he said the city government was making sure that ‘big trees’ were planted on roadsides.

Earlier, Shams-ul-Haq Memon, the Sindh Secretary Environment, blamed lack of water and environmental changes for the devastation of jungles and trees.

He said that in the past, floods in the Indus River produced trees and forests, which no longer existed.

Referring to the issue of cutting trees for wood, he said, there were also socio-economic problems, which too needed consideration, as livelihood of many depended on wood.

He said the government had made an environmental protection strategy aimed at improving the situation.

Dr Mirza Arshad Ali Beg, President of the Pakistan Environmental Assessment Association said that due to cutting of tress, health hazards in the shape of air pollution were on the rise.

He said gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide, emitting from vehicles, were also multiplying health hazards for Karachiites.

That, he opined, was in addition to the already limited sources for oxygen production (trees). With the elimination of trees, the whole ecological cycle was disturbed, he added. Mirza Beg called for restrictions on cutting trees.

Chairman of the NGO Alliance Nisar Baloch suggested that a book be published containing data of all plots reserved for parks and amenities, so that land could be protected from the land-mafia and encroachment.

Nazeer Laghari, editor of an Urdu daily, said that other countries had maintained their environment through technology, yet our society was reluctant to use the same.

He deplored that there were still less parks in Karachi to cater to the needs of its population.—PPI