A meeting of the Executive Committee of the IUCN Member Organizations in Pakistan was held on June 22, 2020. The meeting was Chaired by Mr. Roomi S. Hayat, Chairperson, IUCN Pakistan National Committee of the IUCN Members. Mr. Malik Amin Aslam, IUCN Vice President & Regional Councillor, Asia; and Adviser to the Prime Minister of Climate Change also attend this meeting.
Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, IUCN Country Representative welcomed the Members to the meeting and shared the details of the IUCN Pakistan initiatives. He appreciated the active role of the IUCN Pakistan National Committee and leadership of Mr. Malik Amin Aslam, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Climate Change. He also appreciated the mega initiatives by the Government of Pakistan like Green Stimulus Package and Protected Areas Initiative for the protection of the environment.
The Members expressed their deep concern on the development of the Beach Front Project being developed on Clifton beach. The Members felt that the project would be an ecological disaster and would damage the natural beauty of the beach. Besides, it will restrict the movement of common citizens on this segment of the beach. They termed it a violation of the human rights to give full ownership of around 1 KM segment of the beach to the owners of a housing scheme and depriving approximately 15 million citizens from entering this section of the beach. The issue was raised by Ms. Amra Javed of SHEHRI-Citizens for a Better Environment.
Mr. Malik Amin Aslam informed the Members that the federal government has budgeted Rupees 5 billion in the Protected Areas Initiative Programme and the other portion of Rupees 5.00 billion in the Protected Areas initiative will be contributed by the provinces. He further informed that the World Bank has repurposed US$ 180 million for Pakistan. This money was available for some other purpose, but when Pakistan approached the World Bank the money was diverted for nature’s protection which will be utilized through the National Disaster Management Fund which is working under the Ministry of Climate Change. He said that the Government is also trying to bring Astola Island – the first Marine Protected Area under the Green Stimulus Package.
The representatives of the IUCN Member organizations participated in the meeting included: Mr. Malik Amin Aslam, Adviser to the Prime Minister; Mr. Roomi S. Hayat, Institute of Rural Management; Ms. Amra Javed, Member, SHEHRI-Citizens for a Better Environment; Mr. Zia-ur-Rehman, AWAZ-Foundation; Ms. Robeela Bangash, Human Resource Development Network.
For more information, please contact:
George Sadiq, Programme Officer, Education Communication and Outreach, Cell: 0303-333-2127, email: george.sadiq@iucn.org
