Steps taken to ensure environment protection

Islamabad: Minister for Climate Change Mushahidullah Khan has said that the projects being funded by the federal government hold mandatory provision for development of the green belts.

Talking to this correspondent he said they have taken steps to ensure that the development projects do not cause damage to the natural environment due to which environmental impact assessment report is necessary before initiation of any such project.

He said there is a need for concerted efforts to conserve forests and increase tree covered areas in the country to combat threats associated with environmental degradation and climate change.

The minister said Pakistan is also making efforts to reduce carbon emission despite the fact that it accounts for less than one percent of global emissions.

He pointed out that the climate change has become such a big issue that various quarters are terming it bigger than terrorism, adding “Now the time has come that all of us should play our due role to cope with the challenges related to the climate change.

Mushahidullah said there are concerns that the Himalayan glaciers would melt faster due to the global warming and the government is fully alive to all these challenges and taking steps to deal with them.