Environmental experts Friday urged the federal government to urgently activate the national coordination forums among the provinces and the Centre to adopt and implement the environmental awareness, conservation and protection strategies.
The webinar was jointly organized by Devcom-Pakistan and DTN to mark the World Environment Day (WED) on Friday. The title of the webinar was ‘Celebrate Biodiversity: EPAs Role in Environmental Protection and Improvement’.
The speakers said environment seems to be the least priority agenda for all the governments except tree plantation. The absence of baseline data and situation analysis, no appropriate action plan could be derived out. They pointed out the absence of technical staff to handle the cases of environmental impact assessments (EIAs), financial resources and capacity to handle the local environmental management plans need to be addressed on high priority.
Devcom-Pakistan and DTN Director Munir Ahmed said the devolution of environment to the provinces has weakened the environmental awareness, conservation and protection regime in Pakistan. He said sub-national environmental authorities are can easily be influenced for the approval of faulty and weak EIAs impacting local nature cover and natural resources and biodiversity.
Environmental Law Expert from Lahore Ahmad Rafay Alam stressed the need to revisit the environmental legislation and build the capacity of EPAs to understand and comprehend the relevant legislation while approving the development projects.
Asif Shuja Khan urged for national coordination forum and proactive decision making to protect environment and biodiversity.
Dr Farzana Altaf said the EPAs have limited authority and mandate after the 18th amendment in the constitution. She urged the civil society to come up with awareness and support to conservation and protection of the environment. We cannot stop development, she said.
