ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has planted 0.5 million plants in different areas of the federal capital in collaboration with educational institutions.
This was revealed by CDA Member Environment Syed Mustafain Kazmi, while addressing an interactive seminar titled Combating Climate Change Impacts. He said that the objective of the seminar was enhancing awareness on environmental issues, he said during the plantation campaign-special focus has been given to the landscaping of the city and plantation of fruit and indigenous species of plants.
The seminar was organized by Environment Wing of CDA in collaboration with partner organizations in connection with World Environment Day 2015.
Being custodian to the environment, the civic body is duty bound to ensure a healthier environment to the next generations. He said that the theme of the World Environment Day 2015 Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet ,”Consume with Care” calls for returning to the nature, what it has given to us.
The CDA has introduced mechanical sweeping mechanism for cleanliness of the major avenues and striving to improve the waste management system.
Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmad, who presided over the seminar, said that the global climate has changed drastically over the last century and Pakistan is vulnerable, which is increasing with rising population, land use changes like urbanization and deforestation, development in the high risk zones and environmental degradation.
Speaking on the occasion, Environment, Planning and Development Chief Naseer Gillani said that Pakistan is facing an annual loss of $ 24 billion due to the adverse impacts of climate change, environmental degradation and called for serious efforts towards environmental conservation with special focus on energy conservation and efficient use of the natural resources.
On the occasion, Environmentalists Huma Khawar, Munir Ahmed, Zeeshan Sohail, Muhammad Ali Rizvi and Umer Khalid Butt also spoke on different aspects of Climate Change Impacts.
