The Climate Change Centre (CCC), Agriculture University Peshawar (AUP) organised a one-day workshop on 'Climate Change Challenges-Threats and Opportunities' here on Thursday. Vice Chancellor, Agriculture University, Dr Zahoor Ahmad Swati presided over the proceedings.
The speakers of the workshop were included Former Federal Minister for Information & Broadcasting Nisar Memon, Director General (DG) Pakistan Metrological Department (PMD) Dr Ghulam Rasul, Head of Inter-Co-operation (IC) in Pakistan Dr Arjumand Nizami, expert on climate change, Dr Hanif, Professor Inamullah and Director, Climate Change Centre (CCC), Dr Jawad Ali and others.
The speakers gave detailed presentations on the fast growing climate change, temperature and their effects on crops, vegetables and fruits, risk of drought and fastly drying of water reservoirs and presented alternative solutions to them. Director General (DG) Pakistan Metrological Department gave detailed presentation on recent devastation due to rain in Chitral and said that it is better to spend one dollar on awareness than spending 36 dollars on relief and rehabilitation after disaster.
He said that the climate change has rendered maximum effect on the glaciers of Hindokush Mountain while four glaciers of Swat have been melted and now people are doing farming in those areas. He said that instead of spending on relief and rehabilitation, concentration on the establishment of Early Warning System is more better. Similarly, Head of Inter-Co-operation in Pakistan, Dr Arjumand Nizami said that the climate change has cut down the number of four seasons in the year, which also leave impact on different crops and we would have to go on adaptation. She urged policy makers to start planning in this regard with immediate effect.