Altaf Hamid Rao,
MIRPUR (AJK): State-run Azad Jammu & Kashmir Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Islamic Relief Pakistan (IRP), a renowned NGO, Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work jointly for safeguarding the pristine environment in AJ&K besides for creating awareness for sustainable development besides disseminating broader issues related to the climate change.
The MoU signing ceremony was convened by Planning and Development Department of Azad Jammu & Kashmir government.
Director General EPA-AJK Raja Muhammad Razzaque, who also holds the office of Secretary Population Welfare of the State Government and the country representative of the IRP Ghulam Raza Narejo signed the MoU.
Speaking on this occasion, the EPA AJK chief Raja Muhammad Razzaque, highly appreciated the highest approach of the IRP to serve for the cause of nature and nature based resources for the protection of the rights of future generations.
“This is high time that civil society and NGOs should join hands and rise up to support the Government for the protection and conservation of our pristine environment”, Razaq underlined.
He particularly, focused on the unchecked use of non-degradable plastic bags that have become a serious threat for the human health as well as territorial and aquatic biodiversity.
The DG EPA said that Govt. of AJ&K was taking tangible measures to reduce the impacts of climate change as far as possible. He underlined that despite negligible contribution of Pakistan towards climate change, Pakistan in terms of vulnerability is amongst top ten countries. “Therefore, we have to take swift appropriate measures for mitigation as well as adaptation.
Speaking at the MoU execution ceremony, country representative of IRP, Ghulam Raza Narejo, said that since neat and clean environment was a common and collective cause, his organization – the IRP will be forthcoming to generate awareness through debates and research work, he vowed.
He lauded Azad Jammu & Kashmir for being blessed with tremendous natural resources is one of the most sensitive parts of the Country to be taken care of to reduce adverse environment impacts.
Narejo also highlighted that since anthropogenic activities were the major cause of environmental degradation, the Islamic Relief Pakistan in consultation with EPA, will devise a comprehensive strategy for taking tangible measures to safeguard nature and nature based resources, he concluded.