Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Monday urged Members of the National Assembly (MNAs) to play proactive role in creating awareness in their Constituencies during monsoon seasons owing to the impending threat of disasters. Speaking at the National Standing Committee meeting with MNA Munaza Hassan in chair, Zartaj Gul said the Ministry of Climate Change was also playing its part in timely awareness of the masses during natural disasters in coordination with other sectors.
She said, “I would request all the members to keep close contact with their relevant district disaster management authorities, the Commissioner offices, Rescue 1122, Irrigation and Agriculture Departments and other provincial agencies as they had Department latest data and information regarding the prevailing weather situation and future prediction for disasters. It will help warning about the risks posed to the population of your electorate.” She mentioned that our farmers would have to change their traditional way of cultivation due to the impacts of climate change.
On the occasion, Secretary of the Ministry Hassan Nasir Jami said that our ministry’s budget had been increased historically and we were working on a number of projects based on environmental conservation and other multi-sectoral initiatives.
The Billions Tree Tsunami project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was successfully completed which was also appreciated by the UN Secretary-General and moreover it had been nominated for Climate Action Award in COP-24 to be held in Chile.
The ministry, he said was taking part in a nationwide plantation campaigns and was also going to launch the Chilgoza Forest Project, which would help to increase its specie cover and grow huge amount of chilghoza pine nuts.
Chairperson of the standing committee Munaza Hassan said, “The Assemblies play a vital role in timely awareness of natural disasters in their constituencies. At the national level, there is a need for mechanisms that allow organizations to exchange researches on various topics, whenever awareness campaigns are launched.” She hoped that the people would give full support to the government for eliminating the use of plastic bags from August 14 in the Federal capital.
“Natural disasters have caused huge damage to the country due to lack of timely planning in the past,” she said. Munaza Hassan during the meeting said that Pakistan was an agricultural country and we should be 100 per cent self-sufficient in the agriculture sector and for this purpose we should provide timely information to our farmers.—INP
