Hyderabad – The PPPP, PTI, MQM, N league, QumaiAwami Tehreek and the Functional League came together in Hyderabad Club to engage in a consultative dialogue on climate change, with a shared goal of building a sustainable future for our nation. This historic event marked a significant step towards collective action and demonstrates the commitment of these political parties to address the urgent challenges posed by climate change.
Ms. Puspha Kumar, Vice Chairperson of SCAN, welcomed all party representatives and participants.
Mr. Amjad Baloch, Regional head, shared an introduction of SCAN. It operates in the Sindh province and has 26 CSOs as active members. SCAN always given priority to individuals who play their role, such as advocates, high profile climate lovers and experts. He highlighted the religious point of view regarding the importance of taking care of trees at religious places like temples and churches.He also emphasized the staggering amount of plastic waste generated, which reaches 820 million tons, with our own contribution being 400 million tons. The annual cost of climate change amounts to 675 million dollars. Our political party representatives hold significant value and attract people. Therefore, it is essential to dedicate half a page of the party manifesto to climate change.Furthermore, Mr. Baloch highlighted the devastating impact of the recent flood, which resulted in 1 million households being fully damaged and 400,000 livestock lost. Additionally, numerous acres of crops were destroyed. Unfortunately, the upcoming monsoon season is expected to bring further losses.He further shared that, we have taken the initiative to form a diverse group to study and address climate change. In the future, we aim to bring together all political parties to collectively tackle this paramount issue. Climate change is a matter of utmost importance globally, and it requires a dedicated budget allocation.
SyedaQurt Shah, Icharge Women Complaint cellshared that our group SCAN is actively working on climate change issues in various areas of Sindh. During one of our visits to camps during flood 2022 we organized an awareness session specifically for pregnant women. It was observed that many of the women attending the session were in a state of trauma, struggling with the challenges they were facing and wondering how to overcome their current situation.
Mr. Imran from NCA shared that the NCA started working in Pakistan during the earthquake. We are currently working on PB, climate change, and GBV, carrying out faith-based actions. We need to take greater care of the universe. We are implementing our initiatives at two-level around SCAN approach: advocacy and specific actions. In terms of specific actions, we are focusing on tree plantation and livestock agriculture, tree plantation, and addressing climate change. Mr. Imran briefed uabout the Sindh climate change policy, and the KP climate policy is already approved by the KPK cabinet. How does SCAN plan to link with political parties in the development of an action plan, there is need to work on it.
Nasir Jamal, the leader of JamaitIslami, shared that whenever Pakistan faces climate change-related issues, the country has a separate department dedicated to addressing these concerns. He expressed concern over the recent devastating flood, which has severely affected people and left them in critical conditions. According to him, landlords have suffered the loss of hundreds of acres of land due to the flood.He emphasized the importance of providing a favorable environment for our society and stated that JamaitIslami is committed to being involved in every step taken to address the issue of climate change in Pakistan.
Rafique Magsi, the Leader of F League, expressed his views on other parties. According to him, they have caused destruction to Rani Bagh and political figures have encroached upon the land in Sindh, including forests. They have also taken control of natural waterways, leaving no outlet for water, which should be used for drainage. The Miyani forest is on the verge of dying as trees are being cut down, and when questioned, the response is that they will be replanted on greenways.Our party manifesto will focus on empowering local communities, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring climate justice for vulnerable populations. By integrating the voices of the marginalized and promoting inclusive policies, we can forge a path towards a sustainable future that leaves no one behind, he added.
Rafique Magsi pointed out that there is no one to intervene and stop these wrongdoings, and the responsible authorities, such as Hyderabad Development Authority-HDA and other city authorities, have given permission to cut trees and construct buildings. As a result, he believes that they bear the responsibility for these actions. We will write to party members to include climate change as main focussed pillar.
Aneesa Wali Ullah, the leader of PTI, expressed her appreciation for the work being done by SCAN on climate change issues. She mentioned that the PTI has also made significant efforts to address climate issues during their time in government. They have undertaken tree plantation drives in various areas of Sindh, demonstrating their commitment to protecting the environment.
She highlighted that PTI has actively organized awareness sessions and carried out extensive tree plantations as part of their initiatives, she added. However, she expressed concern over the mismanagement of funds allocated for climate change. According to her, there are millions of rupees that are not being utilized appropriately and instead being pocketed by certain individuals in the name of climate change. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf recognizes the urgency of the climate crisis and its implications for our country. We are dedicated to formulating policies that prioritize climate action and environmental sustainability.
Advocate Ramesh Gupta, the representative of N League’s Climate, addressed the global significance of climate issues, emphasizing that they are not solely problems specific to Pakistan. He expressed concern that people in general are not giving enough importance to climate issues, despite the commendable work being done by SCAN. According to Gupta, the focus should be on raising awareness among the public about climate-related matters rather than solely organizing events and seminars.
Gupta further highlighted the negative impact of industrial zones, including flour mills, on people’s lives. He emphasized the need to address these issues and find solutions that mitigate the adverse effects of such industries on the environment and public health.
Noor Bajeer, an executive member of SCAN, expressed his concerns about the state of energy in the organization’s manifesto. He shared that the energy sector has caused significant damage, noting that other countries have already halted the construction of power plants based on coal mining. It is disheartening to see that Pakistan has recently adopted this practice. Noor emphasized the need for political parties to exert pressure and take action on climate change issues. Solar energy party should be separated from climate change policy, he added.
Professor Dr. Muhammad Ismail Kumber highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate issues on the poor in Pakistan. He mentioned past disasters such as the 1999 cyclone, floods, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have affected the country more severely than other regions. After the devastating flood in 2011, the Sindh government sought to understand the underlying causes and initiated efforts to rehabilitate natural waterways. Dr. Ismail praised SCAN for its remarkable work in climate change policy.
Dr. Ismail pointed out that although policies and documentation exist, implementation is lacking. He emphasized the need to incorporate climate change policies into the manifestos of different political parties on this platform. He also expressed concern over the diminishing forest cover, with 33 % already lost since partition. While the world manages rain, he questioned why the government is not effectively managing water resources in Pakistan.
Mr. Dilawar Qureshi, former MPA of MQM, expressed his gratitude towards SPO and SCAN, stating that those who save one life essentially save the entire universe, and he credits these organizations for their efforts. He mentioned that this is the first climate change program he has attended during his political career, highlighting the significance of climate change as a core issue.
Ayaz Lateef Palijo began his speech by congratulating SCAN and SPO for their remarkable work and addressing important issues. He conveyed a message to his party, urging them to formulate a comprehensive policy on climate change at the grassroots level and collaborate with SCAN for the betterment of society.
Palijo questioned the level of public awareness regarding environmental issues. He highlighted that billions of years ago, life did not exist on Earth, and there were various ice ages with factors such as methane and carbon dioxide. He warned of the increasing temperatures, melting glaciers, ozone duplication, and the potential damage to organs in the future.
He expressed concern over sudden floods, weather changes, and environmental issues, emphasizing the potential threat of water reaching populated areas due to glacier melting. Palijo emphasized the severity of the situation, noting that while policies exist, implementation is lacking. He highlighted the prevalence of violence against women despite policies addressing such issues.
He mentioned the lack of collective efforts in solar energy and reverse generation. He criticized the proposed Kala Bagh Dam, stating that it would pose a disaster and damage coastal areas. Palijo stressed the need for tree plantation campaigns and highlighted that global warming and CFCs pose security threats. He also mentioned Lahore as the most polluted city in Pakistan and expressed his commitment to contribute and draft a community-focused environmental plan.
Mr. Qureshi explained that in his party, they have held a press conference to present budget proposals, as everything operates within the framework of the budget. Without an allocated budget, it becomes challenging to address any issue effectively. Therefore, he emphasized the need to prioritize the climate change budget in the Sindh cabinet. He further mentioned that during a recent press conference, MQM raised the issue of climate change and advocated for its inclusion in the upcoming budget, stressing the importance of allocating funds to tackle climate change challenges.
Advocate M Parkash acknowledged the commendable work being done by the SCAN group and encouraged political parties to prioritize and address climate change issues in their party manifestos. He emphasized the positive impact that such inclusion would have on tackling climate change. Additionally, he made a request to all individuals to contribute to creating a friendly environment by planting trees.
The day left a significant impact on political parties, urging them to incorporate climate change into their party manifestos. It emphasized the importance of addressing this pressing issue and highlighted the need for comprehensive strategies and commitments from all political entities. The collective realization of the magnitude of climate change propelled parties to consider its inclusion as a crucial aspect of their policy agendas. This shift signified a growing recognition of the urgency to combat climate change and work towards a sustainable and resilient future.