By: Uzma Zubair
A couple of days back, world leaders had
gathered in Paris for a grand conference on Climate change. A torrent of
pronouncements and promises had already been issued forth from Pope Francis, XI
Jinping, Barack Obama and many others. The IMF warns that human fortunes will
evaporate like water under a relentless sun if climate change is not checked
soon.
The promises about Paris are known as
“intended nationally determined contributions”, are not only but also diverse
hard to compare. In the conference, the delegates agreed about global
temperatures that’s should be allowed to rise by more than 2Co (3.6Fo) above
pre-industrial levels. Green groups have argued for years that anything more
would be widely dangerous.
The rich countries are more concerned
about climate change than the poor ones who have other things to be worried
about. Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif also attended the Paris
International Conference on environment few days back. In Punjab, most of the
criticizers think that Environment Department is responsible for all types of
pollution in Punjab. But it is not reality because repairing of faulty sewerage
is included in the duties of WASA. Similarly, dengue, polio issues are
concerned with Health Department. The matter of trees matter is connected with Forest
Department, but unfortunately people do not have the perfect knowledge about
the fundamental duties of the departments. Hence, they consider the Environment
Department is responsible for the real pollution picture based on most facts in
front of the society, because government of Punjab has taken lot of effective
initiatives to protect the environment. The focus is entirely upon environmental
pollution in the light of special instructions of Chief Minister of Punjab to
make environment better. Government of Punjab has launched lot of developmental
projects in this regard. Recently Provincial Minister for Environment Begum
Zakia Nawaz has been appointed to cope with the problems of clean environment
and to promote the cleanliness of environment in our society, that will lead us
to breath in fresh and clean environment. Prime
Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had paid a visit to Paris to attend the
International Conference on Environment. Provincial Minister for Environment
Department Punjab Zakia Shah Nawaz had accompanied him.
Being a Pakistani, there are some duties
for us to realize. My question is to public and citizens, are we playing our
role to clean our environmental surroundings? Have we repaired our out of order
vehicles, which leave much smoke on
roads, even much noise if we cleaning or making our earth polluting? There is
need to ask questions from ourselves.
Are we faithfully our responsibilities at
individual and collective levels?
Islam teaches “cleanliness is half of
faith”, this applies upon all circles of our life, being a Pakistani we have
some duties to perform in a certain manner. The question is are we true to Islam
sayings. The actual duties of Environment Department is to regulate and monitor
those other linked departments whose activities or negligence can raise the
issue of environmental pollution like health, WASA, LDA and other concerned
departments.
Punjab Environment Department ensures
compliance of Punjab Environmental Quality Standards (PEQS) waste water and
gaseous emissions. This department is monitoring industrial effluents and
municipal waste. It also promotes environments’ awareness and ensures sustainable
development.
Environment Department reviews of
initial environmental examination / environmental impact assessment. It
conducts campaigns against smoky and noisy vehicles as well as it is
collaborating with NGOs/CBOs for undertaking environment friendly projects. EPA
District officers are actively working in Lahore, Sheikhupura, Gurjanwala,
Faisalabad, Sialkot, Multan and Kasur.
++++++
