"We have planned a meeting with the Ministry of Finance in the coming days in which we will brief the ministry about all the challenges that the Ministry of Environment is currently facing due to shortage of funds," he said. He agreed that the ministry failed to make the 'The National Year of Environment 2009' a success due to the unavailability of funds.
To a question regarding the UN funding, he said that though they pledge the funds but are not releasing them. Afridi requested the UN agencies to speed up their work and release funds in a country like Pakistan where the environmental degradation is affecting its people and economy on large scale. "If the issues would not be addressed well in time then no doubt Pakistan would face drastic impacts of climate change and other environmental degradation issues," he added.
Earlier while addressing the inaugural session of the NGOs convention and environmental exhibition, organised by One UN Joint Programme on Environment, Afridi said the ministry requires at least Rs 1 billion daily to overcome the environmental degradation challenges.
On the occasion, Afridi launched the Grass-root Initiative Programme (GRIP) that will provide grants to the Civil Society Organisations for addressing environmental problems in the field of climate change, waste management & sanitation and integrated natural resource management. He said that the overall effectiveness of small grants programme has the potential to impact the environment at the real grass roots level.
"Many of the successful small scale initiatives in the past which were shaped by the small grants are now up scaled in the shape of large scale projects," Afridi maintained. He said that while acknowledging the effectiveness of small grants mechanism, the Ministry of Environment and the United Nations together formulated the Grass-roots Initiative Programme that will assist the civil society organisations in meeting the community-based environmental management needs.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Secretary for Environment, Kamran Lashari said the country's environment and natural resources are ecologically fragile and are being exploited beyond their "maximum sustainable yield." Although the political will in the country, however there is a general lack of visible impact to conserve the environment and to take proactive steps to reverse and halt the on-going phenomenon of environmental degradation.
"Though salinity can be addressed to a great extent through proper irrigation, drainage and flushing system which is missing in our country," Lashari added. He said lack of preparedness make us much vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
"Despite of the will of the government, the challenges are much beyond its resources. These challenges need gigantic resources, particularly in terms of concerted and cohesive actions, as the software such as policies and plans are already with us. Nevertheless not supported by requisite actions," Lashari said.
He said the actions needs dimensions such as integrated approach on one hand and joining hands towards meaningful partnership on the other. The representative of the United Nations, Toshihiro Tanaka, said environmental challenges cross sectors and political boundaries as the issue could be handled by joining hands among all stakeholders from the government, civil society and UN Agencies.
"The issue of environment also goes beyond the national boundaries and is international in nature. This is the reason why environment is one of the core themes on which United Nations is focusing its operations," he said. Later the convention was concluded with the call for project proposals to be submitted to the Ministry of Environment under 'One UN Joint Programme for Environment'.
These projects of the NGOs will focus on grass-roots environmental problems through community based actions that improve the environment and also help in poverty alleviation. The NGOs across the country set colourful stalls in the convention highlighting the culture of their area and the environmental challenges they are facing.
Additional Secretary, Kamran Ali Qureshi, Country Director UNDP, Toshiro Tanaka, Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan, Osmo Lipponen, a large number of representatives of Civil Society Organisations from all over the country, students and media persons were present on the occasion.