KARACHI: Environmental experts said on Monday that controlling sources of mercury pollution and emissions besides enhancing public education system to raise awareness about its grave impacts can effectively help minimise toxic chemicals’ exposure to human health and environment. These views were expressed at a national mercury toxicity assessment workshop organised by the Ministry of Climate Change in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility under its project ‘Development of Minamata Initial Assessment in Pakistan’. Minamata Convention that comprises various mercury-control actions had been adopted in October 2013 in Kumamoto, Japan. It was ratified by 98 countries, including Pakistan. Hammad Shamimi, the joint secretary (international cooperation) at Ministry of Climate Change, said that the ministry was committed to working with country’s environmental, health, education, and industrial sectors for the purpose. He was of the view that to make Pakistan mercury free and to tackle the sources of toxic mercury, it was imperative to formulate a stringent policy, alongside public advocacy and awareness measures. He maintained that a ban on new mercury mines, and phasing-out of existing was needed besides ending use of mercury in a number of products and processes. Dr Shunichi Honda, the programme officer at the United Nations Environment Programme, said that mercury is a global pollutant and with time there has been an increase in calls from within the countries signatory to the Convention and from external stakeholders to manage it effectively to protect human health and environment. Appreciating seriousness of Pakistan’s efforts, particularly those of the Ministry of Climate Change, he said that it was a good omen that Pakistan was taking all out measures in collaboration with relevant government and non-governmental departments, industry and academia to rid the country of mercury pollution. He said that he had learnt that the authorities in Pakistan were almost done with compilation of a draft report on initial assessment of mercury in Pakistan. He added that preparation of mercury inventory, reports about causes, sources and impacts of mercury in country was also underway, adding that there were clear signs of the country’s seriousness towards completely phasing out mercury use at any level in the country by 2020. Published in Daily Times, September 11th 2018.