Punjab Environment Protection Authority (EPA) arranged a seminar in connection with the global Earth Day celebrations and called upon the youth to come forward to spread the message of a pollution-free environment on Friday.
The seminar was held at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture. Environment Secretary and chief guest Sajjad Saleem Hotyna inaugurated the seminar. In her keynote address, EPA Director General Dr Shagufta Shahjahan said that youngsters had the responsibility to protect and clean the environment.
She said the department was launching a campaign on tree plantation at various schools of the city.
Punjab University Professor Dr Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhary gave a presentation on “Environmental issues and concerns”, University of Engineering and Technology (UET)’s Chemical Engineering Department Dean Dr AR Saleemi presented on “Introduction to green technologies” whereas Business Dynamics PVT Executive Director Khalid Hameed.
Ltd presented on “Introduction to Controlled Life plastic Technology”. This year EPA has collaborated with the Children’s Library Complex to hold a painting and exhibition on recycling in which about fifty public as well as private schools have been invited to participate. The EPA also asked all district coordination officers to join hands in commemorating the international day and arranging activities with theme of the Earth Day 2011.
Earth day is celebrated on April 22 throughout the world to spread awareness about the environment. The day was first celebrated in 1970 by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson and Dennis Hayes in New York. Every year a specific theme is assigned to celebrate the day.
Various provincial secretaries, government departments, NGOs, scholars, industrialists, academicians, professors and students from various universities and colleges such as Lahore University of Management Sciences, UET, Kinnaird College, Lahore College for Women University and general public participated in the Earth Day celebrations.