Public Hearing of Environmental Commission: Will it Translate into Action?
Public Hearing of the Islamabad Environmental Commission
Written by: Staff Report Posted on: June 18, 2015 | | 中文
(l-r) Asad Umar, Dr. Parvez Hassan (Chairman), Hammad Naqvi and Dr. Anwar Baig
A public hearing of the Islamabad Environmental Commission formed by the Islamabad High Court under the instructions of Justice Athar Minallah, was held at the Pakistan-China Friendship Center on the 17th of June, 2015. It was chaired by Dr Pervez Hassan, and attended by some of the members of the Commission: Secretary Cabinet, Raja Hassan Abbas, Country Director IUCN, Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, DG Environment Protection Agency, Dr Muhammad Khurshid, Executive Director, SDPI, Dr Abid Suleri, DG WWF, Mr Hammad Naqvi, Chairman Environmental Sciences, NUST, Dr Anwar Baig, advocate Ms Saima Khwaja, and MNA for Islamabad, Mr Asad Umar. Other members of the Commission, the Chairman CDA and Talat Hussain of GEO, were conspicuous by their absence, although the Member Environment represented CDA.
(l-r) Dr. Anwar Baig, Mehmood Akhtar Cheema, Saima Khawaja and Dr. Mohd. Khurshid
The Commission has set up committees on Air and Water Pollution, Solid Waste Management, Encroachments, Legal and Regulatory Framework, Enhancement and Capacity Building for Implementation, Public Participation and Accountability.
Dr. Abid Suleri, SDPI (L) and Secretary Cabinet Raja Hassan Abbas (R)
The issues raised at the public hearing have been discussed on various platforms, including the Senate Committee on CADD, in the past. The Green Force, a group of Islamabad environmental activists, brought to the focus the fact that while everyone is aware of what is causing the environmental degradation of Islamabad, but the problem is with implementation, as nothing changes on the ground! Mr Anwar Baig said that the solid waste should be separated at the household level, but there was no mention of how the citizenry should be sensitized on the rudiments of recycling and the need to separate the waste. Members of the Green Force again raised the need to have a pedestrian and cycle friendly city, and stop the encroachments in the green belts, parks and the Margalla Hills, the need to keep the nullahs clean and legislate against the use of plastic bags.
Dr Pervez Hassan concluded the discussion by saying that there would have to be a short, medium and long-term plan for rescuing Islamabad’s environment from degradation. The next meeting of the Commission is scheduled for the 29th of June.
As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.
Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.
Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.
YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.
Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.
Nong Rong
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
January 2021
Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir
Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir, 27 October 1947, when Indian military troops forcibly occupied Kashmir illegally, claiming a fraudulent ‘Instrument of Accession’ which never existed as documented by eminent British historian Alastair Lamb! Kashmir & Palestine are examples of illegal occupation & continued Resistance to Repression! There are so many commonalities in Kashmir & Palestine: both under brutal military occupation of foreign powers, both are facing an indigenous, popular, spontaneous & widespread Resistance & Uprising, both are in violation of UN Resolutions which haven’t been implemented, both are witnessing an attempted change in the demographic balance, both are facing the use of rape as a weapon of war, both are testimony to double-standards & hypocrisy of Western powers on human rights & fundamental rights, and both conflicts have an element of racism and Islamophobia, while enduring peace, security and stability will remain elusive in both regions, South Asia & Middle East, until these issues are resolved in accordance with popular aspirations.
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