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Pakistan paying high price for environmental degradation

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Saturday, 25 May 2013

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Vesak Day observed at UN to honour Buddha; Pakistan pays tributes -

UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (APP): Speakers at function marking “Vesak Day” that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing of the Buddha paid high tributes to the spiritual leader’s teaching on the need for compassion and solidarity with those less fortunate. They also highlighted Buddha’s message of peace and tolerance, with Pakistan UN Ambassador Masood Khan calling for resolving conflicts and disputes justly; and addressing the root causes of strife and hostilities.

Chinese enthralled over unique escort of Premier Li aircraft by JF-17 Thunder -

BEIJING, May 25 (APP): It was a unique and impressive show for the common Chinese people when they enthralled to see, a formation of six Jf-17 Thunder aircraft escorting Chinese Premier Li Keqiang Jumbo plane as it entered into Pakistan’s airspace on May 22 to start his official visit. After China Central Television broadcast footage of the JF-17s escorting Li’s plane and of the premier waving to Pakistani pilots, many Chinese netizens said in online comments that the selection of the JF-17 Thunder symbolizes the two nations’ close relationship in the defense sector.

UN rights expert welcomes shift in Obama’s counter-terrorism policy -

UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (APP): A U.N. human rights expert Friday welcomed what he called was a ground-breaking speech by President Barack Obama in which the U.S. leader laid out principles governing the use of counter-terrorism measures such as targeted killings. President Obama said Thursday that, as part of a realignment of US counter-terrorism policy, he would curtail the use of drones, recommit to closing the prison at Guant¡namo Bay, Cuba, and seek new limits on his own war power. The new policy guidance imposes tougher standards for when drone strikes can be authorized, limiting them to targets that pose “a continuing, imminent threat to Americans” and cannot feasibly be captured, according to media reports.

Prof. Akbar Ahmed’s new book wins praise -

NEW YORK, May 25 (APP): Scholars and diplomats expressed appreciation for Professor Akbar Ahmed’s newest book that sheds light on ongoing conflicts in the tribal regions and America’s drone campaign as the acclaimed author introduced his research work to audiences in New York. Dr. Ahmed, the former Pakistani High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at Washington’s American University, delivered the inaugural annual lecture to the American Friends of the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, at New York University.

UN slams attack on partner agency’s compound in Kabul -

UNITED NATIONS, May 24 (APP): The top U.N.official in Afghanistan strongly condemned the “terrorist attack” on a compound of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kabul that earlier Friday wounded three of the agency’s staff, one seriously. One staff member from the UN International Labour Organization (ILO) was also injured, according to a statement issued by Jan Kubis, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

Sport News

Chief of Naval Staff Amateur Golf Cup starts

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): The Chief of the Naval Staff Amateur Golf Cup started here at Margalla Greens Golf Club on Friday with contests taking place in three categories - Amateur, Seniors and Juniors. In the Amateur category, MCPO (PTI) Tariq Mehmood of Pakistan Navy was leading by scoring Gross 72.
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Pakistan nominated as host of Squash World Cup-2015

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): Asian Squash Federation has nominated Pakistan as the sole contender for hosting Squash World Cup, 2015. This recommendation is a testimony of the efforts of Pakistan Squash Federation to convince International Squash Bodies to stage International events in Pakistan. President, Asian Squash Federation, David Mui visited Pakistan during the recently concluded 17th Asian Individual Squash Championship, 2013. He expressed his satisfaction over the meticulous arrangements made for the successful conduct of the Championship, said a PAF press statement issued here on Friday.

ISLAMABAD, May 24 (APP): The Pakistan Football Federation has decided to hold National Under-16 Football Championship-2013 at Arifwala, District Pakpattan from June 7-17 instead of Okara Football Academy on May 31. A total of 12 teams will compete in this Championship in which eight teams are from Provincial and Regional Teams like Punjab Football Association, KP Football Association, Balochistan Football Association, Sindh Football Association, Islamabad Football Association, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Football Association, FATA Football Association and Gilget Baltistan Football Association) and 3 Youth Coaches Teams from (Karachi, Quetta, Lahore and Peshawar), said a press release here Friday.

ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): Chief of the Naval Staff Amateur Golf Cup will commence from Friday at Margalla Greens Golf Club (MGGC) Islamabad. The best amateur golfers around the country including senior, junior and ladies category will feature in the three-day event. The opening ceremony of the event was held on Thursday at Margalla Greens Golf Club Islamabad. Rear Admiral Athar Mukhtar, Patron PN Golf and Vice President Margalla Greens Golf Club was the chief guest on the occasion. The main match would be played amongst amateurs over 54 holes during the three days 18 holes each day. Amateurs with handicap 12 and below will participate in the match. It has been decided to give the participation rights to all those having the handicap up to 12 strokes.

ISLAMABAD, May 23 (APP): The Athletics Federation of Pakistan (AFP) will pay tributes to former Director General Pakistan Sports Board, late Syed Zakir Hussain by holding the 45th National Athletics Championships in his memory. The National Athletics Championship will explode into action on Friday at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad. Speaking at a press conference President AFP Lt. Gen. (Retd) Akram Sahi said that late Syed Zakir Hussain was an outstanding sports administrator, sports lover and writer and throughout his life had a positive and principled approach towards the promotion of national sports in the country.

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Pakistan paying high price for environmental degradation

ISLAMABAD, Jul 18 (APP): Dr. Aurangzeb Khan, Chief Environment Section of Planning Commission on Sunday said that Pakistan was paying high price for environmental degradation and Rs.1 billion per day is the figure estimated by the World Bank. Addressing the inaugural session at a workshop titled: “Mapping of EIA Processes in Gilgit - Baltistan” organized by Environment Protection Agency (EPA) of Gilgit-Baltistan in collaboration with IUCN Pakistan, Aurangzeb it is an excessive environmental damage in monetary terms for an underdeveloped country like Pakistan.

“Keeping in view the compliance and monitoring aspects that are becoming more and more stringent internationally, we need to improve our planning, monitoring and implementation tools,” he said.
He said one way of conforming with them is to introduce Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) at policy level and proper enforcement of Environmental Impact Assessment at project levels, says a press release.
The workshop brought together relevant stakeholders including governmental institutions both from the federal as well as provincial government, civil society organizations, private sector, international organizations, academia and environmental experts/consultants to map Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) practices in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The purpose of the workshop was to map the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Processes in Gilgit-Baltistan in consultation with the other stakeholders.
The EIA map is an instrument that gauges the strength and weaknesses of an EIA system with respect to how it is organized formally as well as its implementation in practice.
The EIA map can contribute to the formulation of priorities for EIA strengthening. In addition, the EIA map provides a useful reference for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
Imran Sikandar Baloch, Secretary Forest, Tourism & Environment, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan in his speech said that the renewable natural resources are the main identity of Gilgit - Baltistan.
He further said that there is established potential of 45,000 MW of Hydro Power in the area. Widening of Karakoram Highway is underway; Dia-Mir Bhasha & Bunji Dam projects have been approved. However, he warned that if all these projects start without the EIA we will lose our fragile, natural resources and to save these natural resources we need to take drastic preventive measures.
He emphasize on the capacity enhancement of the young & talented staff of Gilgit-Baltistan EPA. He appreciated the efforts of IUCN Pakistan for organizing this event and hoped that the recommendations made will help the government to take them forward.
Asad-ullah-Faiz, Director Pak-EPA praised the project for its efforts in promoting EIA in Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that in the previous years due attention was not paid to Gilgit-Baltistan. However when IUCN conceived this project they made Gilgit-Baltistan an integral part of it.
It was due to the reason that IUCN wanted to bring all the EPA’s operational in Pakistan on board to make this project successful.
Babar Yaqoob Fateh Mohammad, Chief Secretary Gilgit Baltistan was Chief Guest at EIA mapping workshop’s closing ceremony. He appreciated project proponents to include Gilgit Baltistan as one of the project partners.
He said that the local population’s high level of dependence of their natural resources makes it one of the most ecological sensitive areas of Pakistan.
We want development but not at the cost of irrecoverable loss to our environment, he added. He felt that project is very timely and will help achieve sustainable development in the region. He also assured his full support for the project.
Participants at the workshop were of the view that Pakistan has achieved an impressive level of economic growth. However, this growth has a very high price tag.
It is estimated that environmental degradation costs the country at least 6 per cent of the GDP. To keep the current level of growth to be sustainable, it will be necessary to protect the environment and adequately preserve the country’s natural resources.
It was unanimously agreed at the workshop that two very effective tools that can help achieve sustainable development are: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA).

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