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Environment policies to be based on academic research: Rizwan Mahboob
Environment policies to be based on academic research: Rizwan Mahboob


LAHORE: (Thursday, March 9, 2017): Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Environment Syed Rizwan Mahboob has said that the government would give preference to academic research while shaping environmental policies and concrete steps were being taken to face environmental challenges. He was addressing the first-ever international conference on “Emerging Trends in Earth & Environmental Sciences (ETEES) 2017” organized by Punjab University College of Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES) here on Thursday. PU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir, Principal CEES Prof Dr Sajid Rashid, Deaf Faculty of Science Prof Dr Shahid Kamal, renowned scientists and environmentalists from US, Germany, Canada, Sweden and other foreign countries, researchers from different parts of country, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.

Addressing the inaugural session, Syed Rizwan Mahboob said that there were three types of experts doing research on environment and one predicted doomsday scenario in near future, one segment of researchers termed it a mere hoax and exaggeration while one type of experts was working on empirical evidences and we must focus on the research work of these researchers. He said that Pakistan was facing four serious environment challenges including deforestation, suffering of agricultural land, water scarcity/non-availability of potable water and growing energy demand which was affecting our environment. He said that we must work on green energy options and focus on disaster risk management. He said that the government was taking steps for improving environment conditions and now we had Climate Change Act. He said that Climate Change Authority would be established soon while national forest policy had also been finalized. Highlighting the need of decentralization of environmental research, he said that our environmentalists should do research at district level. He said that it was the need of the hour that our every citizen should be aware of the effects of climate change and we would cope with environmental challenges with the help of new generation. Addressing the conference, PU V C Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir said that our vision was to generate and share knowledge and collaborate with the institutions of international repute. He said that the role of universities was to help community. He said that the conference would bring something for the government to make policies on environment. He urged the students to focus on research and development and PU administration would extend full support in this regard. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences’ Prof Dr Erik Bongcam Rudloff said that his university would like to work with PU in the emerging field of Bio-informatics. He said that under this venture, new dimensions of agriculture, medical, environment and other fields would be explored. Other scientists from abroad including Dr Martin, Dr Batina, Dr Akram and others said that it was good to know that research work was being done on environmental changes in Pakistan and health and safety programs were being introduced at the college. They said that it was a good opportunity to share latest knowledge, experiences and observations in the relevant fields with participants of the conference and we all would gain. Prof Dr Sajid Rashid said that for the first time in the history of the college, an international conference had been organized. He said that students and local researchers to benefit from the knowledge and experiences of renowned foreign researchers. He said that the department from August 2015 to December 2016, the department had published 85 research papers out which 54 were published in impact factor journals. He said that our teachers and students have participated in 35 international and national conferences. Earlier, Prof Dr Erick Bongcam Rudloff and Dr Batina called on PU VC Prof Dr Zafar Mueen Nasir. The VC expressed his profound interest in launching degree level program in the field of bio-informatics at Punjab University. The meeting discussed various areas of mutual interest in this regard and collaboration between Punjab University and Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.