KARACHI (HRNW)- Senior leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Insaf Lawyers Forum Karachi and noted lawyer Advocate Hasnain Ali Chohan has said that the ongoing severe heatwave across Pakistan is a consequence of climate change and reflects the failure of federal and provincial governments to adopt effective policies to address the growing environmental crisis.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, Mr Chohan said that rising temperatures, recurring heatwaves and increasing environmental pollution had made life extremely difficult for citizens. He alleged that despite the escalating threat posed by climate change, neither the federal nor the provincial governments had introduced any comprehensive strategy or major projects to mitigate its impact.
He further claimed that nearly 2.2 million acres of forest land in Sindh had been encroached upon, while large-scale deforestation continued unchecked. According to him, the government had failed to take effective action against land grabbers occupying forest land.
Advocate Hasnain Ali Chohan said that countries around the world were investing heavily in afforestation, forest conservation and green infrastructure to reduce the effects of climate change, but no major initiative had been launched in Sindh to protect existing forests or establish new ones.
He warned that continued destruction of forests and unchecked urban expansion would further intensify the impact of climate change. Describing Karachi as a “concrete city”, he said that the steady decline in green belts, parks and tree cover had contributed to rising temperatures, while extreme heat and humidity were causing thousands of deaths every year.
Calling for immediate action, Advocate Hasnain Ali Chohan urged the federal and provincial governments to declare climate change a national emergency and formulate a comprehensive strategy to address the crisis. He also demanded that encroached forest land be reclaimed, a large-scale tree plantation campaign be launched across the country, and at least one million environmentally friendly native trees be planted in Karachi to reduce temperatures, improve air quality and provide a healthier environment for future generations.
He warned that failure to take timely and effective measures would result in even more severe consequences of climate change, the cost of which, he said, would ultimately be borne by the entire nation.
Issued by the PTI Karachi Media Cell.
