HYDERABAD: The Mehran University of Engineering and Technology (MUET) Deputy Director (Academics and Research) of US-Pak Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W) Dr Rasool Bux Mahar on Thursday urged to protect environment and promote awareness among masses. “June 5 is observed as World Environment Day since 1974,” he said while emphasising this year’s theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. Dr Mahar said that in Pakistan the use of plastic has increased at an alarming rate that has polluted the rivers, sea and posed a significant threat regarding the climate changes. “Environment is actually a human attitude towards nature,” he said while adding that pollution has adversely affected the lives of people, animals and plants. He urged to develop a ‘friendly’ behavior towards nature for a collective benefit. “Human being has been created from a combination of soil and water – the key components of environment that have been contaminated,” he added. “Healthy environment is a prerequisite for a healthy life”, he said while suggesting people to minimise the use of plastic. He revealed that the modern curriculum of engineering, science and even humanities are reformulated according to the environmental needs of the world today. He further said that the MS and PhD scholars of MUET were being taught to adopt healthy environment practices in their professional lives. Published in Daily Times, June 8th 2018.