KARACHI, Aug 30: The biophysical and environmental problems in the country are formidable, and most of them represent the effects of years of neglect and mismanagement, said a report by a conservation organization.
It was further said that the problems related to the biophysical environment of the country were not new, but had become more severe and costly in terms of their impact.
A report — “Pakistan: looking to the future — a national progression in thoughts and actions for sustainable development”— was released the other day in connection with the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which was inaugurated on Aug 26 at Johannesburg, South Africa, and will continue till Sept 4.
The IUCN Pakistan, which has launched the report, claimed that the Pakistan Country Assessment Report (CAR) being presented officially at the WSSD by the Minister for Environment, Shahida Jamil, extensively drew upon the contents of its synthesis report.
It further said that the IUCN’s report aimed to develop a holistic picture of the environment and how it related to development, poverty and other aspects of sustainable development in the country. The report is based on two main building blocks; namely the assessments of the environment sector, particularly those prepared since 2000, and reports of nine consultative workshops organized by IUCN and the ministry of environment.
The report said that there was clearly a progression in effect in the way decision makers in the government and their partners, observers and the people concerned viewed sustainable development.
Media coverage of environmental issues became sharper and more frequent during much of the 1990s, and a certain degree of judicial activism, including suo motu proceedings in support of the environment came to the fore, stated the report.
Financial incentives for promoting innovation in industry and environmental and wildlife conservation were also introduced in selected organizations during the second half of the 1990s.
The North West Frontier Province appeared as a pioneer among the provinces, AJK and FATA in devising a provincial conservation strategy. The Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy (SPCS) was finalized by the NWFP in 1996, and is well into implementation, added the report.
The report culled key recommendations of major environment and sustainable development related documents, reviews, and assessments produced during the last 4-5 years in the country, which included the National Conservation Strategy Mid-term review Report, World Bank’s Environmental Strategy Background Paper, CIDA’s Pakistan Environment Sector review and Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy paper of the government of Pakistan.