UAF observes World Environment Day

World Environment Day provides us an opportunity to focus global as well as individual attention on critical environmental issues through a dedicated theme. A sustainable success could not be achieved by only celebrating an environment day every year but we all have to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development.
This was stated by Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Professor Iqrar Ahmad Khan while addressing the participants of a function organised by Office of the Senior Tutor, UAF, in a bid to create an effective awareness among the youth for preserving the environment at Iqbal Auditorium here on Thursday.
He said that dependence on carbon based energy has caused a significant build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Dr Iqrar emphasised that the theme of this year "Kick the habit towards a low carbon economy" calls for an action to change our habit towards a low carbon economy. He was of the view that if the measures are not taken to address the issue at this stage, it will lead to global warming, energy crisis, low crop productivity and associated environment hazards.
Referring to the annual rain tendency in Sultanate of Oman, he said that this country did not witness more than 120mm rain throughout a year but on June 5, 2007, 880 mm rain paralysed the life in whole country for about 10 days. These threatening issues are due to environmental degradation. Dr Iqrar told the audience that former vice president of US Al Gore was awarded Nobel Prize on account of his meritorious services for environment. Dr Iqrar said that we are all part of the solution whether we are an individual, an organisation, a businessman or a government representative, there are many steps we can take to reduce environment hazards as much as we can.
Earlier Professor Dr Muhammad Younas, Dean Faculty of Animal Husbandry, highlighted the objectives of the programme. He said that on World Environment Day, let us recognise the need to slow the momentum of the dramatic environmental changes we are seeing at the poles and around the globe and let each of us pledge to do our best to mitigate the impact of climate change.
Dr Iftikhar Ahmad Khan, Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Dr Ashfaq Ahmad Chatha and students of Art Club, Debating Club, Dept. of Home Economics and Laboratory Schools took part in the exhibition and speech contests. Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad distributed the prizes and certificates among the successful students. A film titled "An indecent truth" was also shown on the occasion.