Campaign for environment Improvement Religious Scholars, teachers urged to play due role
LANDIKOTAL: Tribal journalists to be included in green journalists forum. Tribal journalists, religious scholars and teachers can create better awareness among the people to improve environment, Federal minister for environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi expressed these views while talking to a delegation of tribal journalists.
He said that the nation would forget about extremism and terrorism if they could know about the alarming threats and challenges faced by global warming and environmental degradation in Pakistan. Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi regretted that former environment ministers had noting to create awareness in society at national level to sensitize them regarding deforestation, increasing temperature and famine of water etc.
Energy crisis, air, sound, carbon and sound pollution and famine of potable water are some of the biggest challenges that Pakistan faces now a days, federal environment minister opined. He said, Big glaciers on the mountains peaks at different sites are speedily melting, which on the one hand, will double the sea water, which is alarming for the inhabitants at sea shore, while on the other hand, it will increase temperature to maximum and bring famine of water in streams.
People are not aware of the importance of planting trees and saplings, which can bring positive changes in environment and keep the temperature at moderate level, Afridi said. He said that Islam had also given much significance to the growth of trees. Being a Muslim nation we are not working to protect the environment and keep it clean, he recalled.
Federal minister for environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi hinted that tribal journalists, religious scholars and tribal teachers would be organized and motivated to create awareness in society regarding environment protection. Green students clubs will be set up at schools at FATA level to launch a movement for making the environment a green one and people friendly.
He said that five million had been granted for Swat River up gradation and cleanliness to make it safe from rubbishes of latrines etc. People should not throw their waste matter into the rivers and canals as it could cause serious diseases, the minister cautioned. More than one billion has been spared for plantation, forestry, protection walls and other relevant projects to protect and make green the environment in tribal areas, Afridi said. The government has also done much for environment protection and improvement in Balochistan through planting million of acacia and other trees.
He urged upon the need for coordinated efforts among the strata of society to control the menaces faced by environment in Pakistan. He also urged upon the world community to provide financial support to Pakistan so it could overcome the challenges faced by environmental degradation and deforestation. He said that government would soon launch a TV channel and radio broadcast solely to highlight environment related problems and issues. Afridi also warned the government departments to avoid ignoring environment related laws; otherwise, legal action would be taken against them.
Source: The Nation
Date:3/26/2010
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