Islamabad, August 23, 2021 (PPI-OT):20th meeting of the Standing Committee on Climate Change held today under the Chairpersonship of Ms. Munaza Hassan, MNA. The meeting started with the recitation from the Holy Quran. Chairperson Standing Committee welcomed the Minister of State for Climate Change, Members of the Committee and other Participants. While discussing on agenda item No. 2 regarding comprehensive report/implementation status of the previous recommendations of the Committee held on 23rd July, 2020.
The Committee showed its displeasure on not attending the meeting by the Senior Officials of the Ministry of Industries, despite the notice of the meeting was issued on 11th August, 2021 and directed that Secretary, Ministry of Industries must have to attend the next meeting of the Committee. The Committee also inquired regarding recycling of scrap batteries and progress on recycling plant installation. The representative of Ministry of Climate Change replied that it does not come in their domain.
The Committee asked that in policy who is responsible for recycling the scrap of E-waste. The Minister of Climate Change informed the Committee that the Ministry had made the policy but the Ministry of Industries requested to assign the matter regarding policy making to the Ministry of Industries. The Committee was also informed that no work has been done on E-waste scrap and no regulations available in this regard. The Committee also showed its displeasure and said that policy cannot be half cooked. It should have been incorporated in the policy.
The Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change informed the Committee that they are trying to include E-waste in the policy. He further informed the Committee that they are facing funds problems and in this regard have approached Asian Bank for financial assistance on waste disposal.
The Committee expressed that Ministry of Climate Change must be focused on each relevant things about environment. The Committee also showed its displeasure on not attending the meeting by the Head of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Committee enquired about the notices issued to the violating industries and what arrangements about the hospitals waste.
The Committee remarked that EPA is doing nothing. The Committee enquired the Ministry that why you have not present a single bill on E-Waste. The existing Act was passed on 1997 and after that no amendments have been incorporated. The Committee said that Prime Minister of Pakistan is very focused on environment. The Committee showed its displeasure on not requesting for funds in PSDP and fixed its responsibility on EPA.
The Committee directed that all officials of EPA must read all sections and to come with preparation before the Committee. The Committee recommended that EPA must give a presentation and come with the data of the entire country. The Committee also recommended that Provincial Coordination Committee must be constituted.
The Secretary, Ministry of Climate Change informed the Committee that updating of Laws is needed. The Committee directed EPA to give a detailed presentation to the Committee in its next meeting. The Hon. MNAs/Members Ms. Andleeb Abbas, Dr. Seemi Bokhari, Ms. Naureen Farooq Ibrahim Khan, Ms. Tahira Aurangzeb, Ms. Shaista Pervaiz, Ms. Musarrat Asif Khawaja, Ms. Zahra Wadood Fatemi, Ms. Romina Khursheed Alam, Syed Mustafa Mahmud, Mr. Zulfiqar Bachani, Ms. Shahida Rehmani and Minister of State for Climate Change and Officers and Officials of the Ministry and its attached Departments attended the meeting.
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