Adviser to prime minister on science and technology Dr Ishfaq Ahmed has warned environmental degradation could cause decline in production rate and imperils water reservoirs of the country.
He was addressing a seminar jointly organised by the Pakistan Engineering Congress (PEC) and Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) to mark the World Environment Day here, on Monday.
Dr Ishfaq maintained pollution is creating manifold problems for the people as it is affecting their health as well as agriculture production. He said "environmental heat" has been increasing for the last twenty years and it has enhanced up to 0.5 degree centigrade.
Moreover, 2005 was the hottest year of the world. He said 1998 was the second hottest year and its temperature remained 14.71 centigrade, which was the outcome of environmental pollution.
He further said sea surface had increased 10 percent during the last 100 years. He said excessive use of fossil fuels would bring more changes in the climate. He called for building more water reservoirs on urgent basis. He further said due to high temperature, diseases like malaria, sunstroke, and cardiovascular and skin problems have also witnessed sharp increase.
PEC vice-president Engineer Chaudhry Muhammad Rashid said on the occasion strict implementation of laws regarding cutting of trees, deforestation and development activities in environmentally-sensitive areas and land range areas could minimise the desertification.