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The government has approved Rs 1.6 billion for 48 environmental development projects in addition to six ongoing mega forestry projects of Rs 12 billion, which have already been initiated in all the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Northern Areas.
Official sources told Business Recorder on Tuesday that a sum of Rs 1,031.449 million had been allocated for 35 ongoing projects, while Rs 587 million had been allocated for 13 new projects. The sources disclosed that the amount, released in the first quarter 2007-08, was Rs 149.7 million, whereas in the second quarter it was increased to Rs 154.9 million.
Astonishingly, the Ministry of Environment does not have any data on the amount released in the third quarter of the currant fiscal. The sources said that on six mega projects for development of forestry sector, Rs 3678.664 million would be spent in Punjab, Rs 3,003.766 million in NWFP, Rs 1,484.00 million in Sindh, Rs 2,157.823 million in Balochistan and Rs 1,663.043 in AJK.
They further added that due to the rising pollution, the country needed immediate and effective steps to expand forest cover to meet international obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. The ministry has decided to enhance tree cover from the existing five percent to six percent under these mega projects to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Giving details of the meeting held here on Tuesday, chaired by Federal Minister for Environment Hameedullah Jan Afridi, the sources said the minister stressed that the monitoring system would be strengthened to ensure transparency in utilisation of funds and timely execution of projects. Coordination with the provinces would be enhanced to protect and preserve the environment for sustainable development, he added.
The Minister was informed that 502.5 million trees had been planted during the last five years, whereas 86.6 million saplings would be planted this year as part of the ongoing spring tree plantation campaign. The Minister was further informed that the Ministry had launched Islamabad Green City Programme worth Rs 1,028 billion and was also observing 2008 as the International Sanitation Year as declared by the United Nations.
Hameedullah Jan Afridi was told that the Ministry had already framed national policies on environment, sanitation and energy, while a draft National Drinking Water Policy had been sent to the provinces for comments. The National Forest Policy 2007 has already been submitted to Federal cabinet for approval, whereas National Range Land Policy is being planned.
The Minister said that strong political will was warranted for clean and better environment. The government was fully committed to make all out efforts for ensuring sustainable environment, officials quoted him as saying.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2008

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