Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Lawmakers and people hailing from all walks of life and shades of opinion have urged the launch a campaign regarding creating awareness among masses regarding the growing climate change concerns. They stressed the need to launch a massive drive at grassroots level and specially take the initiative from learning institutions to educate the school children on this vital issue.

The discussion held in a local hotel with the title “Approaches for Climate Sensitive Growth”, under auspices of Individualland Pakistan in collaboration with Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF).

The main point of discussion was climate change and how the environmental change is impacting human lives, their livelihoods and fragile ecosystems in Pakistan, especially the mountain communities, who stand on the frontline of climate change.

Parliamentarians from various political parties include Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Awami National Party, National Party, and representative from Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl took part in the discussion.

This discussion was aimed at enabling political parties to recognize the climate change issue and make those policies which can step towards adaptation with the changing climatic conditions.

Amna Sardar of PML-N, Nargis Bibi from PTI, Sardar Hussain Babak from ANP, Mukhtar Lala from National Party, Arbab Jandad, Shaukat, and Fazl-i-Elahi from ruling PTI, civil society members and senior journalists also took part in the discussion.

The speakers were of the opinion that deforestation could be hazardous for the environment change and in turn would affect the harvests, productivity and livelihoods besides creating water pollution and energy crisis.

They urged the government and non-governmental organizations to take proactive measures to create awareness among masses, stop deforestation, avoid increasing temperature disasters in future on potential threats of climatic hazards.

Shaukat Ali of PTI led the discussion by mentioning the importance of climate change policies to be included in political manifestos of parliamentarian parties.

Sardar Hussain of PPP hailing from Chitral said, “There is an utmost need to realize the urgency of adaptation and risk management policies, because now we can see the drastic effects of climate change in form of increasing floods and other natural disasters.”

The flood situation in Chitral disrupted a number of families resulting in human losses and damage to basic infrastructure. Pakistan falls under those vulnerable countries where the loss of resources cannot be obtained in an appropriate timeframe. So, it was considered to adapt and mitigate with the climate change in a most effective way, he maintained.

Amna Sardar said that it was need of hour to revise manifestos of political parties and include climate change issue in its manifesto. She vowed that they would fully support those who take initiative for reducing this major issue.

The participants further said that melting of glaciers was one of the most challenging issues related to climate change in the mountainous areas because retreating glaciers could put people at a high risk, adding the flow of water in rivers and streams speedily increase due to melting of glaciers.

“The recent floods triggered by melting of glaciers caused a massive loss to upper said that district of Malakand, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir people,” they said. They further said that people of the region were cutting forest, as they lacked alternative energy sources.

Though, the participants acknowledged that provincial government is trying to take some effective measures, but lack of implementation of laws is the main issue.

They were of the view, “We need to invest in renewable energy as it is becoming increasingly affordable and environment friendly.” However, earlier Sundas Syeda facilitated the session on behalf of Individual-land Pakistan. The moderator also presented the COP 21 conference policy points which were taken into account of consideration by several participants. It was acknowledged that Pakistan is a member of this treaty but still it is the long rough road to achieve the goal of sustainable environment.