Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) managing-director Munawar Baseer Ahmed emphasised the need for joint efforts by professionals, non-governmental organisations and corporate sector to launch a national campaign for creating awareness to protect environment.
He was speaking as chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of a two-day workshop on "Environment Management" organised by the National Forum for Environment and Health here on Tuesday.
"At a national level we have failed to create awareness for environmental protection," he said, adding that the politicians cannot put more efforts in protecting environment so the private sector should come forward and start a mass campaign for environment protection.
Professionals, NGOs and companies should pool their resources and work for saving the environment throughout the country, he added.
Munawar Baseer pointed that the gas utility in collaboration with various NGOs including the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Pakistan, is working in Karachi and Ziarat for protection of trees, which are mainly destroyed on account of fuel purpose.
In metropolis, the company is working in coastal areas for protection of 'mangrove forests', where as in Ziarat, it is striving for saving 'juniper forests', he said, adding that in 20-kilometer area of Ziarat, juniper forests were wiped out because people cut them for burning, particularly in winter season.
In Karachi, the company is working for the protection of mangrove forests in collaboration with the WWF. Besides industrial and municipal waste, the mangroves are also facing threats from cutting by villagers for fuel.
On the other hand, the gas utility has laid down a 90-kilometer gas pipeline to supply natural gas for residents of Ziarat, who have been burning such precious tree during winters.
A plan to supply gas to Ziarat was prepared last year and the work is now almost in its final stage of completion.
Munawar Baseer said the project will be inaugurated soon for the gas supply to Ziarat. Besides providing gas to Ziarat, the company is also planning to plant juniper saplings in an area of about 5,000 acres in collaboration with local NGOs and schools.
"We are also working on preserving the village life of Balochistan and have selected a village at hills for this purpose," he said, adding that the huts of the model village have been preserved and 'National Geographic' would be invited to have study on that village.
"We are providing gas to villages along the coast so that they can use gas instead of mangrove wood," he disclosed and said, under the crash programme, the gas is being supplied to villages around Gharo Creek.
Besides these major two projects, the gas utility will plant over 100,000 trees in its area of operation (Sindh and Balochistan) to celebrate its golden jubilee.
Every area manager has been given a target to plant trees in their respective areas. After plantation, the company would also ensure protection of such trees.
Munawar Baseer decried use of diesel oil in public transport buses in urban areas and said more than 80 percent buses still consume diesel oil, which contributes a major portion to environmental pollution.
While recalling ban on use of diesel oil in public buses in New Delhi, he said now environment in Indian capital is clean as most of the buses are using CNG. He said that badly tuned engines emit deadly gases, which are harmful for human health.
On the occasion, NFEH chairman Dr Shaikh Qaiser Waheed said the forum is non-governmental, non-profit and voluntary organisation, established with an aim to facilitate, promote and help create environmental, healthcare and educational awareness among masses in general and youth and children in particular.
Elaborating the activities to the NFEH, he said it has launched a campaign to encourage and promote use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in vehicles instead of liquid fuel.
NEFH president Naeem Qureshi said: "It must be realised that environment is an issue, which could not be addressed in the real sense till creating awareness."
"Efforts should be streamlined with the support of different segments of society to create awareness and come up with concrete steps for improving the national environment," he added.
He said, over 14 leading companies would be awarded today the first-ever 'Environment Excellence Awards'.
They include Pakistan State Oil (PSO), Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), English Biscuit Manufacturers (EBM), ICI Pakistan, Engro Chemicals, Indus Motors, Thal Limited, National Refinery, Brooks Pharma, Engro Asahi, Dadex Eternet and others.
Chief Executive of United Registrar of System (URS) Ali Khan at the technical session, spoke on ISO-14000 certification and situation in the country.
He pointed out that only 40 to 50 local companies have acquired ISO-14001 certification in Pakistan, mostly textiles, oil and gas companies.
He regretted that the government is not acting as a facilitator to encourage manufacturers to improve their environmental performance.
The public sector organisations are mainly contributing in environmental pollution in Pakistan, which should be controlled, he added.