ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Khan on Thursday said that amongst many other environmental issues, solid waste management has turned out to be a challenge in Pakistan.
“Therefore, we are focusing on better solid management strategy by developing a climate responsive policy framework in collaboration with International environmental agencies and experts,” he said while meeting with a two-member delegation, comprising Program manager UN-Habitat Pakistan Jawed Ali Khan and Country Coordinator Water supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) Tanya Khan here at Islamabad.
Federal Secretary Climate Change Khizar Hayat Khan and Additional Secretary Khurram Ali Agha were also present in the meeting.
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Malik Amin Aslam said that since last few decades, larger cities had seen enormous urban sprawl because of massive increase in population; therefore, the peripheries of the cities were becoming extended part of the cities.
“Due to this mega influx, the cities lack sewage treatment facilities and solid waste management which leads to severe environmental pollution and contamination of surface and ground water bodies,” he said.
Representative of UN-Habitat Pakistan Jawed Ali Khan apprised the advisor about IRRC (Integrated Resource Recovery Center) a community based recycling unit which has been established in Sector G-15, Islamabad, to recover value from waste and provide livelihood opportunities to the urban poor.
He said that UN-Habitat was ready to provide technical assistance, if government intended to replicate this model to other cities as well.
Jawed Khan also informed the chair that UN-Habitat was commemorating World Habitat Day on October 01 and theme of this year ‘Improving Municipal Solid Waste Management is Critical for Sustainable Urban Development’ is very much aligned with the objectives of the MOCC.
Tanya Khan invited the advisor to the PM on climate change to address three day workshop being held at Pak – China friendship Centre from October 05 to 07 on water, sanitation and hygiene issues.
Malik Amin Aslam Khan, while thanking the delegates, reiterated commitment of the government to formulate the national and provincial environmental policies through participatory approach to arrive at viable solutions for climate resilient development in the country to ensure clean and green Pakistan.
