Skip to main content

Pakistan, World Bank join hands to combat smog in Islamabad

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and World Bank Country Director Najy Benhassine met in Islamabad on Thursday to discuss joint initiatives to tackle smog and advance sustainable development in the capital.

Caused by toxic pollutants, smog has engulfed several cities in Punjab over the past month, with Lahore and Multan being the worst hit. The AQI reading in Multan has already crossed 2,000 twice, setting a new record for air pollution.

The Punjab government has declared an emergency in Lahore and Multan, while the effects have also been felt in the federal capital, where the air quality became “very unhealthy” two weeks ago.

During their meeting, Naqvi and Benhassine decided to form a joint team of the World Bank and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to work together on an anti-smog plan, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Minister Naqvi emphasised the urgency of addressing the alarming AQI figures, which reached 271 this year in the federal capital.

“Before the situation becomes hazardous, we must urgently implement a comprehensive anti-smog strategy,” he was quoted as saying.

Discussions also centred on key areas of mutual interest, which included expanding the electric bus service, improving sanitation, providing clean water, as well as upgrading slums and rural areas.

Naqvi highlighted the efforts to maintain Islamabad’s status as one of the world’s most beautiful capitals, noting ongoing reviews of anti-smog machine installations.

The minister expressed his confidence that the collaborative efforts would ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for Islamabad’s residents and visitors alike.

Meanwhile, Benhassine reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to assist Pakistan in achieving its sustainable development goals, including air quality improvement and urban development.

“We are ready to work with the CDA to develop an effective anti-smog strategy,” he stated, adding that international standard reports would help address the root causes of pollution.

The meeting was attended by the federal interior secretary, the CDA chairman, the Islamabad deputy commissioner, and other relevant officials.



from The Dawn News - Home https://ift.tt/Qb2AkWn
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Republican primary race for president in 2024

The Republican primary race for president in 2024 is already shaping up to be a competitive one. There are a number of high-profile candidates who have already announced their intention to run, and more are expected to join the field in the coming months. The frontrunner for the nomination is former President Donald Trump. Trump has been teasing a 2024 run for months, and he has a large and loyal following among Republican voters. However, he is also a polarizing figure, and his candidacy could alienate some moderate Republicans. Another potential contender for the nomination is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis has been praised by many conservatives for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his opposition to vaccine mandates. He is also seen as a rising star in the Republican Party. Other potential candidates include former Vice President Mike Pence, former Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Senator Tim Scott. Pence is a more traditional Republican who could appeal to moderate vote...
1 comment
Read more

Ministers rubbish notion that proposed retirement age extension to favour ‘one particular institution’

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday rubbished the notion that a proposed extension in the retirement age was to favour “one particular institution”, adding that the move would be implemented across the board if approved. The rebuttal comes in the wake of media reports claiming that the government was mulling changes to the Constitution to fix the tenure of the chief justice . Currently, judges of the Supreme Court, including the chief justice, retire after attaining the age of superannuation, i.e. 65 years, as stipulated in Article 179 of the Constitution. While giving his opinion recently on the reports of the constitutional amendment, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had said he “will not vehemently turn down the proposals related to the tenure of the chief justice”. Addressing the issue during a press conference in Islamabad today along since Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the law minister, Attaullah said the extension in the retirement age was “a proposal to a...
Post a Comment
Read more

In noisy NA session, Bilawal endorses PTI’s call for judicial inquiry into May 9 riots

In his maiden speech during a session of the newly elected National Assembly, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday endorsed the PTI’s call for a judicial inquiry into the May 9 riots. He passed these remarks in reference to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s recent call for the formation of a judicial commission to probe the violent protests that erupted across the country following PTI founder Imran Khan’s arrest on May 9 last year. “I call upon the chief justice Supreme Court of Pakistan (Justice Qaez Faiz Isa) to form [a judicial commission] and see who are the beneficiaries [of May 9],” Gandapur had said in a fiery speech after being elected the chief executive of KP. Speaking on the floor of the lower house of the Parliament today, Bilawal said he endorsed Gandapur’s demand. But at the same time, he stated that the result should be accepted by everyone, including the Imran-led party. “It is not possible that someone attacks our institution and th...
Post a Comment
Read more