Environmentalists here on Thursday called for identification of causes into increasing pollution through strict implementation of the environment related laws along with formulation of guidelines to avert the danger posed to the echo system from degradation.
The call was made in a one-day training workshop organised by IUCN for local journalists here on Thursday. Delivering lectures, the environmentalists from public and private sectors warned that in case the environmental issue remained shelved for some more years, then it would be hard to save all living beings.
There was unanimity over lack of commitment on behalf of different stakeholders, and ignoring certain challenges that could estrange human living in over populated cities of the country.
Though the daylong session was quite open, and throughout the discussion the participants shared their personal observations, experiences regarding environmental hazards and how all stakeholder could wage collective fight against it.
But this was repeatedly alarmed that in case the environmental issues were not taken seriously, then its main target could be human health and deforestation.
Participants were also briefed about those industrial units, which were causing environmental pollution. In this regard they were told that apart of others, marble and stone crushing units, match factories, flourmills, brick kilns, carpet-manufacturing units were causing environmental pollution. Mostly the dwellers of particular locality through complaints were bringing such issues into the notice of concerned departments, being followed set procedures including proper trials in courts, they were further told.
In order to overcome these challenges, the participants were asked to educate the general masses about the importance of canal cleaning and desiltation at least once a year, development of small housing schemes, proper sanitation schemes, and plantation of trees with certain distances.
Keeping in view their strong hold over public opinion, the media people were also told to educate the masses about the proper use of all natural resources including water, forests, food and at the same time brief them about proper destruction in these according to guidelines were not properly followed.
The speakers were including IUCN's co-ordinator, Hameed Hasan, Deputy Director Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Liaqat Ali Khan and local journalist, Intikhab Amir.
They urged the journalists that reporting issues relating to environment were actually the people's problems. They were of the view that problem of water, food, atmosphere, sanitation, deforestation, contamination of rivers, etc, actually affected the human health.
There is an urgent need that matters concerning pollution are reported correctly. The versions of the officials concerned need to be sought while compiling stories on environments, they added.