HYDERABAD: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) organized a seminar at Mumtaz Mirza Auditorium on the occasion of World Environment Day to highlight the growing challenges of climate change, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, environmental experts, industrial representatives, and students to discuss climate change risks, conservation of natural resources, sustainable agriculture, public health, environmental legislation, and the role of the media in raising environmental awareness.
Among those present were Adviser to the Chief Minister on Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development Dost Muhammad Rahimoon, Sepa Director General Waqar Hussain Phulpoto, Vice Chancellor of University of Sindh Dr. Fatah Muhammad Mari, Vice Chancellor of Sindh Agriculture University Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal, Vice Chancellor of Benazir Bhutto Shaheed University of Technology and Skill Development Dr. Rasool Bakhsh Mahar, Deputy Director Sepa Hyderabad Region Ali Nawaz Bhambhro, Deputy Director Sepa Jamshoro Qutubuddin Dars, representatives of industrial organizations, and a large number of students.
Addressing the gathering, Rahimoon said the Environment Department differs from many other government departments because its objectives can only be achieved through active public participation. He noted that the Sindh government is investing billions of rupees in climate financing and highlighted the construction of dams in Nagarparkar, which have helped local communities cultivate crops more regularly. He urged citizens to play their part in protecting the environment for future generations.
Sepa Director General Phulpoto said climate change is a long-term challenge that has evolved over decades. Recalling environmental changes witnessed over the years, he observed that excessive use of pesticides has significantly affected water quality and aquatic life. He pointed out that Pakistan is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, while Sindh remains particularly exposed to environmental risks. He stressed the need for nature-based solutions, reduced carbon footprints, and greater public cooperation.
Phulpoto further said the Sindh government has taken significant steps to promote renewable energy. He noted that approximately 2,000 megawatts of Sindh’s 6,000-megawatt electricity demand is currently being met through wind power, while solar energy projects are expanding rapidly. He also revealed that work is underway to establish a biogas plant in Hyderabad.
Writer and intellectual Mahmood Mughal emphasized the importance of environmental education for children, while legal expert Dr. Sardar Ali Shah highlighted the constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment under Article 9 of Pakistan’s Constitution. He noted that despite contributing only around one percent of global carbon emissions, Pakistan has suffered climate-related economic losses estimated at nearly $30 billion.
Vice Chancellor Dr. Rasool Bakhsh Mahar advocated the construction of small dams to maximize benefits for local communities. Environmental expert Dr. Feroz Memon stressed the importance of personal responsibility, saying that cleanliness and responsible behavior can significantly improve environmental conditions. He also warned that climate-related deaths could increase substantially in the coming years.
Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal highlighted Sindh’s unique environmental challenges, including riverine, urban, and coastal flooding. He expressed concern over the limited capacity of the Left Bank Outfall Drain (LBOD), groundwater degradation caused by excessive tube-well usage, and the widespread loss of forests across the province. He called for stronger environmental accountability by corporations and greater investment in afforestation initiatives.
Vice Chancellor Dr. Fatah Muhammad Mari said Sindh faces a combination of floods and droughts that distinguish it from other provinces. He urged the corporate sector to play a more active role in addressing climate change and environmental degradation, describing the seminar as a rare gathering of vice chancellors united in their concern over the future environmental challenges facing Sindh.
The seminar concluded with participants pledging to adopt environmentally responsible practices and contribute to efforts aimed at mitigating climate change and protecting natural resources for future generations.
