Islamabad, The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change, chaired by Senator Seemee Ezdi, convened today at the Parliament House to address critical environmental issues, including the challenges of fog and smog, and the progress of the Living Indus initiative.
According to Senate of Pakistan, the meeting opened with Chairperson Senator Seemee Ezdi highlighting the problems caused by fog in urban areas. The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination provided a detailed briefing on fog and smog, covering their formation, types, causes, and impacts. Senator Farooq Hamid Naek underlined the distinction between natural fog and smog, which results from human activities, emphasizing the urgent need to combat smog, especially in cities like Lahore.
The ministry pointed out that smog is primarily caused by carbon-intensive industries and general pollution, with vehicle emissions accounting for 45 percent of smog formation. The proposed solutions include improving fuel quality, mandatory annual vehicle certification, promoting clean energy and sustainable transport, adopting cleaner agricultural practices, enhancing waste management, raising public awareness, education, and implementing urban forestation. Additionally, the installation of smog towers was suggested as a potential remedy, drawing on examples from China and India.
The committee commended the selection of the Living Indus initiative for the World Restoration Flagship of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This initiative aims to restore the ecological health of the Indus basin within Pakistan. The ministry briefed the committee on the 25 preliminary interventions of the Living Indus, encompassing areas like water and flood management, finance, social inclusion, knowledge, pollution control, agri-forestry, and biodiversity. The financing strategy for this initiative will focus on international support, public finance, community involvement, and public-private partnerships.
Former Senator Nisar Memon briefed the committee on the new convention on Delta Unite, focusing on the challenges faced by the Indus River. He highlighted the adverse effects on livelihoods, including agriculture, fishing, and livestock rearing, and the resulting social issues like poverty and healthcare concerns.
The meeting concluded with the chairperson emphasizing the importance of incorporating climate change considerations into policymaking and fostering public awareness about avoiding plastic use. Attending the meeting were Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Senator Farooq Hamid Naek, Senator Taj Haider, Senator Abida Muhammad Azeem, Senator Keshoo Bai, Senator Khalida Ateeb, Ex-Senator Nisar Memon, the Secretary of the Ministry, and senior officers from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination.