Provincial Minister for Environment Protection Muhammad Rizwan attended the seminar to mark the “World Earth Day 2019” organized under the aegis of Society for Conservation of Environment and Nature, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences here on Monday in City Campus Lahore.
Addressing the seminar, the provincial minister said that the effects of climate change are extremely dangerous for us and our planet. “Today we have to reiterate our commitment to work towards the well-being of this planet earth, focus on sustainable development and mitigating climate change,” he added. He said that after terrorism, environmental pollution is our biggest challenge. “In the last 100 years, temperature rose by 1 percent,” he said. “If this happens again, glaciers would melt and natural calamities like floods will hit us more often than not. We will be the most food insecure region,” he said.
He claimed that the government was aware of the repercussions of climate change as well as it responsibilities in this regard. He further maintained that the Punjab government was acting under the guidance and vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan to utilize all possible means to combat climate change and create mass awareness. Rizwan emphasized that in order to keep our environment clean and pollution free, we have to save water, control pollution by planting trees and make better management of solid waste to tackle pollution & contamination issues.Addressing the participants, Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Masood Rabbani said that UVAS took many initiatives in recent years to promote healthy nutrition by introducing flavoured milk replacing soft drinks for the better health of students. He said that UVAS has always been promoting greenery by planting trees and plants in all the campuses to keep environment pollution free. He said that UVAS is working actively with various Punjab government departments i.e. Punjab Food Authority and Livestock & Dairy Development Department to resolve numerous issues.
Chairman Sustainable Development Study Centre, Government College University Dr Yasir Abdullah, Dr Sidra Safdar and Dr Zillay also spoke on the importance of the clean environment for the well-being of community at large. A large number of students attended the seminar.