KARACHI: Speakers at the meeting of Shura Hamdard Karachi chapter held on the theme: “Climate Change and we”, chaired by Justice (Retd) Haziqul Khairi Tuesday at Hamdard Corporate Office, Karachi, urged the government to control rapid environment pollution and population explosion as these are serious threats for the country’s survival, says a Press release.
Speaking on the occasion, guest speaker, environmental journalist and media consultant, Shabeena Faraz said that Pakistan ranked at 138 in the list of those countries that produced heavy amount of green gases, but enlisted at 5 in the countries most affected by the climate change. There were several good examples, set by some countries, and learning from them we could save ourselves from the bad effects of global warming, she added.
God had gifted Pakistan natural resources in abundance and good eco system, but we spoiled that system and failed to understand that we could not go against the nature. Pakistan was good in first 25 years; we made two big dams of Tarbela and Mangla and then stopped to do so and got surrounded by water shortage as we didn’t make ponds, pools and lakes on open fields to restore flood and rainy waters as a sequel we have only 30 days water in reserve while India 200 days, she maintained.
“We should value water and adopt latest methods to increase its quantity as it is a thing which brings the capital in economy. Environmental pollution is poisoning our atmosphere, air and water, resulting in 30,000 deaths every year in the country”, she said, adding that still there was a way of return to betterment by planting new trees more and more, controlling emission of vehicles and refrain from burning of plastic and rubber materials at open fields instead of recycled them.
Justice (Retd) Haziqul Khairi said that the improvement in environment was invariably conditional to the good governance and better socio-economic and political situation of the country. Shortage of water could be controlled by rationing the water as was being done in early days of Pakistan, he added.
Mrs. Sadia Rashid, President, Hamdard Foundation Pakistan said “it is a positive sign that awareness regarding pollution in the country is spreading among masses; this awareness will surely bring positive change in recent future”.
Dr. Abubkr Sheikh was of the views that industries were responsible for environmental pollution; therefore we should change the model of industry and use hydro-energy to reduce pollution. India was responsible for spreading environmental pollution and causing instability in the region of South Asia, he contended.
Engineer Ibn Hasan Rizvi was of the opinion unless change in mindset of the people is done nothing could be achieved regarding clean environment as people cleaned their houses and threw rubbish and garbage on the streets, and also they wasted water and polluted the sea shores.
Prof. Dr. Shakil Farooqui said that those countvies that made tremendous industrial development and their industries were emitting huge greenhouse gases day and night; in fact they were responsible for global warming. Until they would not control the emissions nothing could be done to reduce global warming, we nevertheless must do something for our own survival, he asserted.
Huma Baig said we should follow our religion, Islam to control environmental pollution and shortage of water, which had made cleanliness a part of our faith and directed us to do economy in using water while making wazoo on the bank of river.
Col (Retd) Mukhtar Ahmed Butt said it was obvious that if we kept our environment neat and clean there would be no environmental pollution in our society; therefore it was the responsibility of state, government and all of us to keep environment pollution-free.
Ms. Shamim Kazmi, a social worker said that population explosion and cutting of threes were responsible for pollution in the country. Everybody should plant a sapling and children be trained from early age to keep their environment clean.
Prof. Dr. Shaheen Habib suggested that a new technology has been introduced in the world to change sea water into the drinking water safely, the plant bearing that technology be installed at Karachi’s shore to fulfill the water requirement of the city.
Salim Mughal, Director, Hamdard Programmes and Publications while submitting suggestions said that the local bodies system should be restored; punishment be imposed on throwing rubbish and garbage on street and roads and in this regard necessary legislation be done forthwith.
Anwar Aziz Jakartawalla, Usman Damohi and Dr. Amjad Ali Jaffery also spoke.