Provincial Minister for Population Welfare and Environment Protection Begum Zakia Shahnawaz on Wednesday said that the government was taking environmental issues very seriously and taking all measures in compliance with international environmental standards, rules, and regulations which ensure immense benefits to the economy besides controlling the number of deaths caused by pollution.
She was speaking at a seminar on ‘Environment of Success – Not Cost but Opportunity’ jointly organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI), Punjab Environment Protection Department and the World Wildlife Fund here at the LCCI.
She said that compliance with environmental standards is a prerequisite for doing business with developed world, and therefore, the environment department was working tirelessly to educate the business community on these standards.
She said that compliance with environmental rules and regulations and standards would help enhance exports and poverty alleviation, therefore, we should join hands to achieve this goal.
The minister said that the unchecked discharge of untreated waste into waterways was a cause of pollution in canals and rivers, which could result in an increase in diseases like cancer and hepatitis.
Zakia Shahnawaz said that environmental issues were of prime importance and therefore industrialists, and particularly the export-oriented industry, should tackle them on priority. She added that the Punjab government would extend every possible help to the industrial sector in this regard. She said that the government was encouraging the establishment of low-cost water treatment plants to control carbon emissions.
LCCI President Abdul Basit said that the Punjab Environment Protection Department should help the business community and give awareness about environment standards, and areas should be marked for water treatment plants in industrial zones. He said that the industry cannot afford water treatment plants due to their high cost and therefore the government should come forward to put up water treatment plants in all industrial areas. He also suggested that industrial units being environmentally compliant should be given exceptions in duties and taxes to encourage other industries to implement environment-related rules and regulations.
Abdul Basit said, “The fast changing global economic scenario has provided us with an opportunity to increase our exports to the desired levels which cannot be achieved without having compliance with international environmental standards.”
Faryal Ali Gauhar said that deforestation is also one of the biggest reasons for environmental issues in Pakistan and caused a rapid rise in pollution levels and distortion of the natural order.
She said that environmental issues could be handled with a positive approach and tackled through public-private partnerships.
LCCI Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa and Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan said that that the LCCI is taking all possible measures to educate its members about environmental standards in vogue the world over.
Tehmina Saeed Chaudhry said that environmental changes cause agricultural disasters, floods and, drought and therefore this issue should be taken very seriously.
LCCI Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa, Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan, LCCI Standing Committee on Environment Convener Tehmina Saeed Chaudhry, Cultural Heritage Management for Diamer Basha Dam Lead Consultant Feryal Ali Gauhar, and former LCCI president Mian Misbah-ur-Rehman also spoke on the occasion.
