Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the concept plan of “Ecological Restoration of the Indus Basin for a Climate Resilient future”. The approval was granted while the PM was presiding over the 4th meeting of the Committee on Climate Change.
The concept plan comprises conservation and pollution control measures to be taken up-stream, Indus plain and downstream of the Indus River Basin, a detailed plan will be completed within four months to provide the vision and an action-based framework to integrate current initiatives and develop new initiatives to fill the gaps.
A detailed presentation on adverse impacts of climate change on Indus River Basin was given at the meeting where it was informed that negative impacts on Indus River Basin include reduction in crop yields, water shortage, hot and dry spells, extreme flooding, and loss of bio-diversity in the country.
During the meeting the recurrent violations of the Indus water treaty were discussed in detail. The PM was apprised about how the violations of the Indus Water Treaty have adversely impacted the bio-diversity of the Indus River Basin in Pakistan.
Prime Minister emphasized long-term planning for urban areas where environmental issues including loss of green cover, sewerage treatment, solid waste management and air pollution need an immediate solution. He added that “Pakistan is not part of the problem yet we want to be part of the solution”.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Omar Ayub Khan, Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Fawad Ahmed, Syed Fakhar Imam, Ch. Moonis Elahi, SAPM Malik Amin Aslam, Dr Shehbaz Gill, Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mehmood Khan, Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Khalid Khurshid, Minister of State Zartaj Gul, Senator Faisal Javed, Minister for Climate Change Sindh Muhammad Ismail Rahoo, and senior representatives of the United Nations and World Bank.
