Media urged to highlight environmental issues
KARACHI – Media and journalists should collectively highlight the environmental issues according to the facts in order to educate the masses.
This was stated by the Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Information and Archives, Salahuddin Haider, while delivering a lecture at a workshop on ‘Environmental Journalism’ organised by National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) in Karachi on August 31.
He expressed deep concern over increase in environmental pollution and urged the government and journalists to give priority to environment as it affects each aspect of life.
He said that environment had not been on priority of any government and the media. Haider said that specialization in the field of environment is needed while the government and journalists should play their role in reducing pollution.
“Exclusive coverage to environmental issues should be made by publishing quality reports. The government should invest more on the welfare of people rather than giving more luxuries,” he said.
Chairman, IUCN, international conservation union, Pakistan Chapter, Javed Jabbar, said the environment is a master subject and journalists should do specialisation in this field. “This affects all subjects of life and environment assessment must be made before launching any development scheme or setting up industry,” he added.
“Pakistan should present environmental budget before annual budget in order to assess gains and losses,” he said, adding that journalists have the responsibility to create awareness among masses about environment and give direction in right way.
The Chairman of NFEH, Kaiser Waheed said people are still unaware of the word of environment and this is the job of journalist to educate them.
Facilitator of workshop, Sirajuddin, said that Pakistan is included in the list of maximum polluted countries.
Abdul Haseeb Khan said that no government has given any health policy so far which could really solve people’s problems. Maintenance of people’s health is not possible without environment control, he added.
Source: Business Recorder
Date:9/1/2004
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