Sensing the threats posed by the fast growing environmental problems, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) is planning to organize more awareness programs for further promoting the compliance of environmental standards and regulations in business community, which will help in controlling the degradation of environment. This was said by Zahid Maqbool, President, ICCI while chairing a meeting of ICCI Sub-Committee on Environment.

He said ICCI has been organizing awareness seminars on environment protection and the last such seminar was held at ICCI in in collaboration with Ministry of Environment on “Clean Development Mechanisms.” However, he said more such programs are being planned in collaboration with stakeholder organizations including Ministry of Environment, Environmental Protection Agency and Capital Development Authority to further encourage the compliance of environmental laws in business circles .

He said these programs will target the industries and trade associations aiming at raising awareness, sharing information and best practices being observed internationally to promote green business practices and clean production techniques so that business community could contribute more effectively in improving the environment.

He stressed upon the government to provide sufficient subsidy on the installation of pollutants control equipment, devices, machinery & technology and also allow duty free import of these devices, which will greatly help businessmen in enhancing the use of clean production technologies.

He said government should also supply emission control devices for vehicles on subsidized rates and encourage the use of clean fuels,  green public transport & treatment of industrial effluents to improve the quality of environment in the country.

Zahid Maqbool also showed great concern over the rapid deforestation in the country caused by massive cutting of trees, urbanization and lack of conservation efforts. He cautioned that without preservation of country’s environmental integrity, agriculture and other sectors will be hit hard with more depletion of natural resources.

He lamented that only five percent of Pakistan’s total geographical area is under the forest cover and suggested that government should encourage public-private partnership in tree plantation campaigns. To start with, it should assign a dedicated area in the federal capital to every public & private organization for planting trees so that with plantation of maximum trees, Islamabad could be made a role model environmental friendly city for the rest of the country.