Karachi:Governments could not address the environmental issues and challenges alone; they always need support from the masses. The laws could be introduced and implemented by the governments but if the society did not adopt them in letter and spirit then goals could be achieved.
There is no doubt that global change in weather conditions at its impact on the humans is felt across the globe but so far very little efforts have been made to address the challenge. To address the environmental challenges and global warming issues we have to adopt collective measures because there is no other way to overcome these problems.
These views were expressed by the Senator Murtaza Wahab, the advisor to chief minister Sindh for the environment, during a one-day seminar on sustainable solution towards population growth and environmental degradation held at the University of Karachi on Tuesday.
The departments of sociology and institute of environmental studies KU arranged the daylong event at the Arts Auditorium in collaboration with Global Green, a nongovernmental organization.
He urged that no task could be completed without creating and spreading awareness regarding the concerned subject. “We are talking about various issues for the last 70 years but practically little or no serious efforts were carried out to address them due to which those issues have become a severe challenge now and not easy to eradicate them from the society.”
Senator Murtaza Wahab observed that people used to blame governments for civic and social problems but do not realize that they also have to perform some responsibilities and duties as a member of the society.
“I was very hopeful when the bill against plastic bags was introduced in the province but owing to lukewarm response and support from the public, we still did not achieve the desired results. The people should support the cause and participate in making Sindh clean and green.”
He mentioned that the whole country is facing the environmental challenge and issues and there is no need to give political statements and all political parties and federal and provincial governments should come on one page to address this severe problem.
He asked the audience to point-out problems they were facing in their neighborhood and approach the Sindh government so that those issues could be resolved on a priority basis. He said that the provincial government is seriously working on increasing the number of trees in Sindh and set a world record by planting the largest number of mangroves in the coastal belts of the province on two different occasions.
Murtaza Wahab added that the provincial government has planted more than 50,000 plants just in three months. Sindh government is also going to initiate waste management pilot project in upcoming days and due to financial issues, the provincial government would seek help from the private sector.
Meanwhile, the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi as a nation we should follow the law of the state as governments could not provide facilities without the support and backing of the masses.
He observed that most of the time people only make complaints and rely on giving arguments rather than taking practical measures to address the problems. He said that pointing out the issues and expressing concerns regarding the problem is something different but in society, many people only like to criticized governments and concerned departments just for the sake of criticism.
He further said that issues could be resolved if awareness is spread in the society and masses follow them in letter and spirit. “We all should know what are our responsibilities and what we should do as part of the society and what will happen if we do not participate actively in the betterment of society.”
He added that a rapid increase in population and environmental issues are among the serious challenges Pakistan is facing for the past many years and so far all the efforts have failed to provide the solution in this regard.
KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi mentioned that solid waste material and garbage and filthy roads are commonly seen in the city. “We have chopped down the trees and spread the buildings across the city without realizing how much it will affect the environment. This is the right time to come up with policies which discourage high-rise buildings at every corner of the city.”
He shared that since August 16, 2019, the KU has planted around 50,000 plants in different locations of the varsity. Professor Dr Moazzam Ali Khan of Institute of Environment Studies KU claimed that Karachi and Lahore now considered as one of the most populated cities across the globe.
“Karachi is facing severe water, air, marine pollution, and solid waste material is spread all over the city due to which it has lost its carrying capacity.” He said that over 80 percent of the water supply to the city is contaminated and unfit to human consumption.
Professor Dr Nabeel Ahmed Zubairi of Department of Sociology, KU observed that majority of the population of the city is facing respiratory problems mainly due to air and water pollution.
He said that every citizen should fulfill his or her responsibilities and practically support governments and other concerned departments so that civic issues could be addressed at the earliest.
Rafiq Patel of Global Green shared that 27000 acres of trees were cut off in a single year and Pakistan is losing its forest very rapidly which is quite alarming. The mountains in KPK used to be filled with trees but the timber mafia has damage the ecosystem by chopping trees in huge quantity. He said that Pakistan is also losing its glaciers due to the same reasons and added that federal and provincial governments should immediately take the notice of the matter.
The Director Institute of Environmental Studies KU Professor Dr Seema Jilani, faculty member Dr Aamir Alamgir and representatives of Global Green Walid Ansari, Younus Shad and Farooq Dadi also spoke on this occasion.