Pakistan highly vulnerable to drought, floods, cyclones

Associated Press of Pakistan: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Zaheeruddin Babar Awan Monday told the National Assembly that Pakistan is highly vulnerable to drought, floods and cyclones due to impact of climate change. To a question of Shakeela Khanam Rashid during the question hour session, he said Pakistan National Operational Strategy on Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) strategy has been approved.

Under the CDM 10 projects on energy efficiency, waster management and industrial processes have been approved that would reduce 3.22 million tons of greenhouse gas emission per year during their operation besides bringing other environment, economic and sustainable development benefits to Pakistan, he added. He said to combat the climate change, Pakistan signed the United Nations Framework convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in June 1994, and acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.

In addition, to this, he said, a high level committee on climate change has been established under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister to review policies and monitor progress on Climate Change initiatives in the country. He further said that Ministry of Environment and Task force in the planning Commission were also actively working to address the challenges of climate change.

In supplementary questions Akram Mashi Gul and Riaz Pirzada said that deforestation in all major cities have also increased the environment related issues…..