The Minister for Environment Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat held talks with the senior officials of the World Bank (WB) here at the World Bank headquarters.
According to a press release issued by Pakistan Embassy here, he briefed the World Bank about the successful completion of the first phase of compiling the inventory of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in the shape of pesticides, to be done under Stockholm Convention.
He said that Pakistan is ready to ratify the convention, as the National Implementation Plan is ready. In total 6,000 tonnes of pesticides is stockpiled in Pakistan, which needs to be destroyed.
Before the actual assistance which may be forthcoming under Stockholm Convention, there is a need to find other sources for technical and financial arrangements to destroy the existing piles of the pesticides, he remarked.
Further he said that Pakistan is in compliance with the requirements of all international conventions and would welcome any assistance or support which could help in achieving the targets to remove hazardous substances.
The Minister also brought out the success of Pakistan in removing Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) under Montreal Protocol by training and gradual reduction in imports of Chloro Floro Carbons (CFCs) and CTCs. He said that they are presently monitoring the survey of Hydro Chloro Floro Carbons (HCFC) and would bring out the real estimates shortly.
The Minister was extremely concerned about the non-availability of any regulatory framework for preventing dismantling of hazardous substances in the process of ship breaking in the entire region around Pakistan. Any technical assistance in this regard would greatly help to minimise the chances of water and air contamination by such hazardous substances, he added.