The billion tree project and a greener Pakistan has been the bedrock of Imran Khan’s ideology for the future of our country. Even before assuming power in July 2018, the PTI government in KPK remained focused on tree plantation in order to move towards a greener environment. The initiative for protecting the environment is a good one and will always be condoned.
After all, we and our children have to breathe the air around us. It is in our hands to ensure whether that air has to be clean and fresh or polluted. The state is primarily responsible for ensuring a healthier and cleaner environment. In order to curb global warming and drastic climate change, certain measures need to be taken no matter how difficult they may seem.
Although, the PTI government is keen on taking forwarding the billion tree initiative, it needs to assess the repercussions of some of its other projects which have the potential of damaging the environment if not regulated properly. Along with tree plantations, the PTI government is also focused on boosting tourism within our country, mostly in the northern areas. Promoting tourism won’t be unwelcome, but strict rules and regulations focused on protecting the environment are essential. The number of tourists going to the north are more likely to cause damage to our environment. Unfortunately, the illiteracy of the general populace makes it difficult to protect our own motherland.
The citizens in general care little about the environment and dispose of all sorts of garbage wherever they please. No adherence to waste bins or any other alternative measures is witnessed and the aftermath of a tourist vacation is tons of waste and plastic littered around, effectively tarnishing the beautiful scenery of the place itself and desecrating the environment as well. Hill stations and surrounding rivers, streams or lakes reflect the image of an abandoned plastic land once the tourist season is over for the Pakistanis. Thousands flock to the different vacation spots in Pakistan only to add to the misery of the local people and endanger the environment whilst packing up.
Boosting tourism in the country would be a good initiative and would be beneficial for the economic conditions of the country. However, before undertaking such projects, a mechanism to ensure strong adherence to environment-friendly laws should be put in place. Even the fresh approvals for construction should not be at the cost of cutting down dozens of trees. Laws should be introduced making it mandatory to keep significant distance between constructions as opposed to swamping an entire mountain with high rise buildings. The entire scenery would be tarnished if these practices are not stopped.
Murree, for instance, a decade ago did not have the amount of construction it has at the moment. Some frequent visitors even feel that the temperature of Murree has risen over the years due to over-crowding, deforestation and excessive construction. At this rate, Murree won’t be the same tourist destination as it once used to be and will resemble a garbage dump if not tackled instantly. The PTI government should implement environment protection laws and strictly punish those violating it. After all, damage to the environment is detrimental to each one of us which is why it is crucial that every single one of us should play his or her role in protecting our environment.
Due to the lack of awareness, a vast majority remains unaware of the potential hazards of damage to the environment. That is where the state should intervene and actively pursue not only tree plantation but implementation of other environmental protection laws. Another factor which contributes in damaging the environment is encroachment on public lands in hilly areas. The encroachers then go on to raise construction and that cutting of trees then adds another drop to the pond damaging our environment. Last but not least is the sewage disposal in streams, lakes and rivers.
Hopefully, the naya Pakistan mantra with the new, seemingly, environment friendly government would focus more on its protection and ensure a clean and green environment for the future generations of our country
An anti-encroachment drive, extensive tree plantation, proper waste management and regulating the tourists visiting the northern areas of the country are some of the points which the government needs to address and focus its policies on. With effective management, both tourism and environment protection can be ensured thereby steering Pakistan towards prosperity and creating a greener and cleaner environment.
One step towards the protection of environment, would pull in other segments of the society who would be supportive of the government as long as the end goal is to achieve a better environment. Advice can be sought from environment activists and the civil society in order to effectively ensure the protection of the environment.
Similarly, be it the smog commission by Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah (as he then was) or the direction to plant two trees in every new house being built in any housing society by Justice Jawad Hassan, some members of the superior judiciary have expressed their concerns regarding the deteriorating situation of our environment. Justice Jawad Hassan further went on to direct, in his order, that the no-objection certificate of such housing societies will be cancelled in case of non-compliance with the order of tree plantation.
The state’s initiative to protect the environment is likely to receive tremendous support from the masses as well as other branches of the state including the judiciary. Rather than judicial review of their actions, it seems that the all actions taken in the best interests of the environment of the country would be condoned and not interfered with.
It is unfortunate that the judiciary also has to intervene and pass orders on petitions filed in the public interest so as to ensure even environmental protection. Hopefully, the naya Pakistan mantra with the new, seemingly, environment friendly government would focus more on its protection and ensure a clean and green environment for the future generations of our country. Implementation of environment friendly laws should be a priority for the government as in the absence of the same, the boost in the tourism industry rather than helping the country would contribute more in damaging it.
