The discussion was jointly organised by Rural Development Policy Institute (RDPI), Islamabad, Shehersaaz, Lahore and South Asian Network for Disaster Mitigation; Duryog Nivaran here Monday.
Representatives from Environment Protection Agency, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Provincial Relief Commission, Regional Meteorological Department, Federal Environmental Management Unit, Non Government organisations and media took part in the discussion.
In his keynote address Abdul Shakoor Sindhu, Principal Co-ordinator, RDPI highlighted some key issues related with climate change and being faced by Pakistan. 'There is an urgent need to devise strategies at all levels that could help especially the vulnerable segments of society to adapt to climate change. Communities residing along rivers, in drought prone areas and coastal belts are particularly vulnerable to climate change as it has been noted and cautioned by the experts that climate change shall increase the intensity and frequency of natural disasters', he pointed out.
Muhammad Riaz, Director Regional Meteorological Center, Lahore told the participants that his department has recorded a temperature increase of 0.1-0.5 degree centigrade in major urban centers of the country over last 14 years. He said that though the average summer temperature is noted to be uniform but an increase has been observed in winter temperature. He further stated that rise in temperature shall have marked impacts upon country's water resource, forests, agriculture and social structures.
Muhammad Ashraf Bodla, Director Federal Environment Unit, speaking on this occasion said that climate change would have worst impacts on country's mountain ecology and glacier structures. This would severely affect our water resources, he cautioned
Dr Tauseef Qureshi from Institute of Environmental Engineering, UET, stressed upon the need to reduce carbon emissions. This can be achieved by promoting small hydroelectric units, wind and solar energy, genetic engineering, hybrid cars and sericulture, he suggested.
Highlighting the measures taken by Government of Punjab to reduce pollution and control carbon emission, Javed Iqbal, Deputy Director EPA said that the government has introduced CNG in Rickshaws and buses, established Punjab green fund and promoted tree plantation. He added that the government has also promoted thermal power plants and composting plants in big cities. He revealed that the government has stopped the execution of a housing scheme in Rawalpindi as it involved cutting of trees on a massive scale.
Emphasising upon the need to make the government accountable on environmental issues, Deip, a well know social activist, said that democracy is must for sustainable development. She blamed that biggest contributor to environmental problems are government departments and land mafia that is being patronised by the civil and military bureaucracy,
Concluding the session, Dr Shabih Ul Hassan Zaidi, Dean Faculty of Architecture and Planning said that solution to climatic induced problems lies in preparedness and adaptability. Unless we start taking climatic issues seriously and plan for their mitigation, we are bound to face more and more disasters in future, he said.