The Pakistani government, corporate sector and the people have come together in a new initiative to ensure environmental safety and to curb the menace of pollution collectively for a healthy and clean Pakistan.
Speaking at the 10th Annual Environment Excellence Awards 2013 held recently here at a local hotel, they urged policymakers, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and other local and foreign agencies related to environment protection to expedite public awareness among the citizens and to ensure the implementation of environmental laws and protection of natural resources as part of their utmost responsibility.
They said that increasing deforesting and industrial pollution have resulted in an increase in floods in the country due to the rapidly melting glaciers. As a result, the country suffered precious lives and destruction of infrastructures at massive level.
Supported by energy update, the environment excellence award ceremony had been annually organised by National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH), in which 75 renowned companies received awards at a ceremony attended by socialites and renowned chairmen, CEOs, and heads of public and private sectors organisations.
On the occasion, Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan said political will was needed to ensure proper legislation and consequently its implementation throughout the country which would be a major milestone towards the greater awareness and climate protection efforts being currently undertaken in society.
The legislation could pave the way towards betterment of climate safety measures which would ultimately ensure clean air and clean water for everyone, he added.
He further said that a large section of society was aware about the basics of environmental safety issues but they were not playing their playing their due role individually or collectively. Therefore, a sense of responsibility should be inculcated among the masses to make efforts on their own to reduce pollution by protecting the environment.
Former federal minister of petroleum and natural resources Sohail Wajahat Ali said that people should be educated first to prepare them mentally for a clean lifestyle, which in turn would educate them to protect their environment from hazardous elements that were known to have negative effects on the health of human beings.
He said the concept of “prevention is better than cure” should be taught at the most basic level, because by doing so the nation could achieve the dream of clean environment without losing its resources, including health and money.
Furthermore, he said that people should introduce recycling of garbage for energy instead of dumping it and causing air pollution. The availability of dust-bins at public places should be ensured at any cost while the process of plantation of trees should be increased in order to reduce pollution.
Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddique said that environmental laws did not exist in the country and that its legislation was also difficult and challenging, but it could be achieved if awareness drives are initiated by environmental protection agencies and NGOs in collaboration with the local government.
He said there was a need of organising seminars and conference frequently on the mentioned topic and to educate the masses about the hazardous impact of pollution on their own and children health.
Meanwhile, NFEH Chairman Kaiser Waheed said local bodies were very important for the implementation of environmental laws in the country which would result in availability of clean water and air for every citizen. The government should make effective its ministries and departments at federal, provincial and district levels in order to intensify efforts related to climate safety.
He mentioned that NFEH had played a tremendous role in launching awareness drives in connection with environmental protection throughout the country which included seminars, teachers training programmes, journalism workshops and publication of environment magazines.
Publicity Channel CEO Naeem Quershi said different national and international NGOs and environmental agencies were working aggressively towards ensuting environment protection in the country but multinational companies and private sector firms were also playing a vital role in this regard.
Moreover, he said that corporate sector through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects have greatly invested their time and money in climate protection, which was being encouraged through the National Environmental Excellence Award.
