The Environment Ministry is all set to celebrate 2009 as the 'National Year of Environment' and finalised activities in this regard. It was decided in a meeting held here on Friday with Federal Environment Minister, Hameedullah Jan Afridi in the chair. Secretary Ministry of Environment Khushnood Akhtar Lashri, representatives of Unido, Unesco, UNDP, Unicef and other partners also attended the meeting.
Addressing the participants, the minister announced that the activities will commence from January 1, 2009 with issuance of commemorative stamps and will continue throughout the year. Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani is likely to formally inaugurate the 'Year of Environment' at an International Conference on Climate Change to be held on January 13-14 in Islamabad, says a statement issued here by the ministry.
Afridi said the activities for the celebration of the year included screening on documentaries on environment, comprehensive media campaign for awareness, panel discussions, dialogue on environment, planting of 10 millions trees in a day to surpass a world record in this regard, arranging seminars, exhibitions, easy competitions and walks.