Caritas Pakistan Hyderabad observed World Environment Day 2010 in Pakistan

Hyderabad, Pakistan: June 07, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

Discussing the impact of climate change in the future, the speakers including Mr. Shammas Shamaun (Executive Secretary, CPH), Mr. Mumtaz Bashir Bhatti, Livelihood Program Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Meherul Nisa Memon, Rev. Fr. Samson Shukar Din (Vice Chairman, Diocesan Catholic Board), Mr. Akaash Santroi (Daily Kawish – Environmental Journilist) Mr. Wali Haider (the Roots for) shared their views on the Environment Day’s awareness program held at Sanghar on 2^nd June 2010, Mirpurkhas on 3^rd June 2010 at Hyderabad Press Club Hall on 5^th June 2010.  Speakers said that every single person needs to take good care of their surrounding, as well as other species on this earth. Rev. Fr. Samson mentioned about the St. Fransis Assisi and his relationship with environment the He set an example for us about 800 years ago. We need to follow these examples save our mother earth today.

Further in special lectures by Scientist Dr. Meherul Nisa Memon & Mr. Mumtaz Bashir they said there were chances of decline in irrigated wheat yield in the semi-arid areas of Pakistan in the range of nine to 30 per cent for a temperature increase of one degree centigrade to four degrees centigrade.  About 80 per cent of the nation’s food and fibre needs are met by irrigated agriculture, with the canal irrigation network mainly dependent on glaciers of the Hindu Kush and Himalayas, which are believed to be receding. They said that climate change is expected to result in changes in land and water resources that will subsequently affect agriculture productivity. According to them Karachi may however face the threat of rising sea levels by the year 2100, and therefore better monitoring and data collection is required to calibrate models correctly. More saline-tolerant species of mangroves should be planted, and there should be a strict control on the removal of mangrove trees. Further, there needs to be community involvement, as well as a topographical survey of coastal and mangrove areas,. They regretted that climate change research was ‘essentially neglected’ in Pakistan until recently. With the melting of huge glaciers, the sea surface is expected to rise by two meters, which would result in the sinking of many islands and a further increase in the populations of many already overburdened cities, they said.

Mr. Mumtaz Bashir also highlighted that by 2025 we need to double our food production to feed the human, in sever water shortage which is going to take place in 2030, and climate conditions, if temperature will be increasing in this way, the day is not away when human survival will be difficult on this planet. There are about 2 million species on this earth, one planet and one future, appeal was made that We need to reduce water pollution, air pollution, recycle the waste material, conserve our environment at all levels. We should also use natural resources with great care, so that the next generation should not suffer from their scarcity, he added.

Also other civil society organizations including SSEWA PAK, Hamdam, SAWFCO, Press Club Associations,  PVDP, INN, Media and Government departments participated actively.

Communities from different stages of life and professions attended these events, altogether 650 participants took part in these awareness raising activities throughout Sindh (including Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah, Sanghar, Tando Allahyar, Badin, Umer kot & Jamshoro Districts )