On Monday, 29 April 2024, Mr. Mohd Syafik Firdaus Bin Hasbullah, Charge' d'Affaires a.i. attended the Earth Day 2024: entitled Pakistan's Roadmap for Plastics Action. The event was organized by Ambassafor Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, Executive Director, Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC and EC) at COMSATS Secretariat, Islamabad. The event was attended by the Diplomatic Corps in Islamabad, government and non-governmental stakeholders, educational institutions, academia, and representatives of the business and industrial sectors. Mrs. Romina Khurshid Alam, the Prime Minister's Coordinator on Climate Change & Environmental Coordination graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Khurshid Alam emphasised the urgency of tackling plastic pollution to address environmental degradation and climate change-related challenges. She called for collective efforts to eliminate plastic pollution from all aspects of public life, stressing that shunning plastic use at all levels is essential to tackle the growing problem effectively. She highlighted Pakistan's pioneering role in launching the National Plastic Action Partnership program, demonstrating the country's leadership in global and regional efforts to combat plastic pollution.
She further stated that under Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s vision for a climate-resilient Pakistan, measures are being taken to protect lives, livelihoods, and enhance climate resilience of public infrastructure. Mainstreaming climate change in the national curriculum, with the support of relevant stakeholders including the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Ministry of Federal Education, is also underway. Khurshid Alam underscored the need for a comprehensive approach, mentioning the formation of a committee comprising experts from various fields across all federating units, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, to tackle environmental and climate change-related challenges effectively.
Ambassadors / High Commissioners from different countries expressed their support for Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif’s vision of an environmentally-sustainable, climate-resilient, and plastic-free Pakistan, pledging both technical and non-technical assistance.
