The Punjab State of the Environment Report, 2022, was presented for public comment here on Thursday by the Environment Protection Department (EPD) of Punjab.
The Punjab State of the Environment Report, 2022, was presented for public comment here on Thursday by the Environment Protection Department (EPD) of Punjab.
The objective of the Draft State of Environment Report, 2022 is to provide a summary of Punjab’s environmental situation and identify the most pressing environmental issues that require attention.
The speakers from the government side at this session, which was presided over by Secretary EPD, Dr. Sajid Mahmood Chohan, and attended by a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from UNICEF, WWF, government departments, private industries, and academic institutions, stated that the report will serve as a useful tool for policymakers, researchers, and environmental advocates to design efficient strategies and policies to promote sustainable development in the region.
Dr. Sajid Mahmood Chohan, Secretary EPD, discussed the importance of the State of the Environment Report and its role in ensuring environmental protection during the session.
He emphasised the need for group efforts to address environmental problems and the significance of strong laws and policies to lessen the effects of environmental deterioration.
Speaking at the event were Ms. Samia Saleem, additional secretary of the EPD and chair of the SoE committee; Ms. Nadia Saqib, director general of the Environmental Protection Agency; and Mr. Waqar Ud Din Butt, project director of the EPD’s Strategic Planning and Implementation Unit.
The report’s findings, which covered liquid and solid waste, environmental complaints, air quality, soil quality, and other environmental issues, were presented by Dr. Anber Raheel, director of SPIU Punjab’s Green Development Program.
Participants from various departments had the chance to offer feedback and comments during the public hearing, which were then incorporated into the report’s final draught. Diverse stakeholders participated in the event in large numbers.
The Environment Protection Department (EPD), a distinct administrative division of the Punjabi government, was established on December 31, 1996. Once separated from the HP and EP Department, EPA Punjab is now a functioning division of the EPD, Punjab.