KARACHI: Environmental experts, climate change and rights activists and senior environmental journalists have called upon the government of Pakistan to provide climate change security to the citizens by devising policies for the protection of the environment in both urban and rural areas.
They were speaking at a webinar on Climate Change Movements in Pakistan organized by The Knowledge Forum, according to a statement issued on Thursday. Senior environmental journalists Ms. Afia Salam, Ms. Zofee T. Ebrahim; urban planner Muhammad Toheed, workers rights activist Nasir Mansoor and climate change activist Aadil Ayub were the main speakers.
They pointed out that due to mega projects displacement of the local people happens and the environment of the area is also affected. Some local movements raise their voices against the environmental threats due to projects like coal mining and coal power plants and construction of big dams but their voice remains unheard.
Activist Adil Ayub of Climate Action Pakistan said Pakistan is among the most vulnerable countries to climate change. Marginalized communities, particularly in urban and rural areas like fisherman and their settlements near the coastal area, are usually the most affected.
Due to the construction of big housing projects in the Malir district, he pointed out that a large number of the population has been displaced and there is no plan with the government to resettle them. Similarly, he also mentioned the displacement of thousands of families due to urban projects like Malir Expressway, Gujjar Nallah remodeling and Karachi Circular Railway.
Ms. Zoofeen Ebrahim said all movements for the protection of climate should unite to raise their voices. She gave an example of many movements in Sindh, which have mobilized people against ecological threatening projects. Sindhyani Tehreek had mobilized people against the construction of the Kalabagh dam, she gave an example. Mobilization and a march of people against water shortage in Thatta district is a recent example, she said.
Nasir Mansoor, General Secretary of National Trade Union Federation (NTUF) who attended the international conference on the environment (COP-26) in Glasgow said that the countries of the world are united to reduce carbon emission but the wealthy countries are not ready to contribute their share in this regard. Now they have introduced the Net Zero concept, but the financial commitments of the West are negligible in this regard, he added.
Nasir Mansoor said that people’s movements had also gathered at Glasgow and held protest marches against wealthy nations for destroying the environment. Senior journalist Ms. Aafia Salam said in Sindh women have united together in the Akram Wah area in Badin district, where they manage the water distribution system in agriculture. Similarly, she said Karachi Bachao Tahrik to save the city’s environment is an example of the climate movement in urban areas.
Urban planner Muhammad Toheed said tree cutting, heatwave, demolition of public spaces, more construction have led to climate change threats. Due to the construction of dams and barrages Indus delta many people have migrated to Karachi and Hyderabad. Bahria town and adjoining areas suffered due to forceful displacement.