Cleaner Environment is at the heart of Sustainable Development; speakers believe

Cleaner Environment is at the heart of Sustainable Development; speakers believe

ISLAMABAD :(28 December 2011) Sustainable development can only be achieved by putting  people and environment at the heart of development process in Pakistan, said SDPI experts during a briefing
for the students and academics from Sustainable Development Study Centre (SDSC) of Government College University, Lahore, who visited SDPI here on Wednesday. They also stressed on collaboration between universities and research institutions for academic research
on different aspects of sustainable development.

Arshad H. Abbasi, Senior Advisor, Water and Energy, SDPI shared SDPI work related to food insecurity, water, energy and environment. He said often development projects are planned without considering the human and environmental
aspects and subsequently such development process results into disastrous consequences for both people and environment. He said ‘New Muree Project’ by Musharraf regime was an environmental disaster which was technically challenged by SDPI research reports.
He said SDPI research and advocacy work created awareness and mobilization of stakeholders and finally Supreme Court of Pakistan took sue motto notice and ordered abandoning of this project. ‘SDPI saved 34000 acre ancient conifer forest reserve which acts
as monsoon rains harvester for the water and environmental needs of this area’ he added. Abbasi also shared some of other recognized work of SDPI such as consolidated work on Indus Waters Treaty and protection of Himalayan glaciers. He briefed on SDPI recent
report on performance of KESC which was acknowledged by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, KCCI and other independent organizations amply proving the technical strength of SDPI.

Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, Senior Research Associate, Climate Change Study Center, SDPI highlighted Pakistan’s and SDPI’s role in various national and international debates on climate change and sustainable development. He said Pakistan
is actively negotiating in international forums which is currently focusing on ‘green economy’ and ‘institutional framework for sustainable development’. He clarified that these approaches are just an instrument to achieve the sustainable development. He informed
SDPI is a pro-people independent think tank which, during its 20 years of existence,have been providing strong research-based policy and technical inputs to the government and international forums on various aspects of sustainable development and very lately
with a particular reference to climate change.  

Faisal Nadeem Gorchani, of SDPI deliberated on historical context of national public policy making process in the country and role of research institutions such as SDPI. He said crisis of non-representative governments and their
deep penetration into economic, social, political and other institutions have created a strong culture of non-participatory, non-consultative and non-transparent public policies which eventually benefitted the ruling elites and market forces at the cost of
its people especially vulnerable and marginalized sections of society. ‘Research institutions in Pakistan have always struggled to protect public interest through their policy research and advocacy, networking, lobbying and, social and political movements
and this struggle goes on aiming people’s supremacy over country’s decision-making and implementing institutions’ he added. 

During the question-answer session, students raised several issues such as public policies, weak environmental governance in Pakistan, and North-dominated global debates on sustainable development, side-effects of dependency on
foreign aid, The head of the Government College University delegation thanked SDPI for organizing orientation visit and hoped for future collaboration between both the institutions.

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Posted by Fayyaz Yaseen on Dec 28 2011. Filed under Latest News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry