NWFP Chief Secretary Ejaz Ahmed Qureshi urged the need for joint efforts to combat the issue of solid pollutants to ensure clean environment for future generations.
He was speaking as chief guest at inaugural session of a workshop on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) at a local hotel here on Thursday. NWFP Environmental Protection Agency, Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency and UNDP jointly organised the workshop.
The Chief Secretary said environmental pollution was not only a challenge for developing countries, but also for the developed ones. He said the issue of solid POPs was a serious threat to human lives and environment, which needed joint efforts by all stakeholders to control it.
In this regard, he said the elected people, civil society and experts had to play their effective role to overcome the issue. He suggested District and Tehsil Governments should also earmark some funds for controlling persistent pollutants.
He expressed hope that participants of the workshop would suggest cost effective and viable solution to the problem, assuring that government would provide necessary funds for the purpose.
He suggested similar workshops should also be organized at other places of the province to create awareness about the issue among the masses.
National Programme Manager of POPs Dr Zaheer Gillani, and NWFP Environmental Protection Agency Director General Hamad Awais also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the aims and objectives of the workshop.
It may be mentioned that there are 12 types of POPs, which produce dangerous chemicals that not only create environmental pollution but also cause cancer in human body.