Press release | 28 Oct, 2009

IUCN holds a three day International Training Course on addressing climate through better air quality management

Quetta October 29: A three day international training course on “Addressing Climate Change Through Better Air Quality Management” was held on October 26, 27, 28, 2009 at Quetta Serena Hotel. The training was organized by IUCN Pakistan under its ongoing Balochistan Partnerships for Sustainable Development Programme. It was inaugurated by Munir Ahmed Badini, Secretary Environment Government of Balochistan.

Twenty five officers and representatives from the Province, district departments, academia and civil society organizations including Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency, Traffic Police Quetta, Motor Vehicle Examiner, Institute of Public Health, Industries, Agriculture, Forest, Metrological, Planning and Development Department, SBK Women University, University of Balochistan, University of Information Technology, Bureau of Curriculum, Rotary Club, Balochistan Rural Support Program, Water Environment Sanitation Services participated in the training. The sessions were also attended by Shah Murad Aliani, the Country Representative of IUCN Pakistan and Zabardast Khan Bangash, Manager IUCN Balochistan Programme.

Manager Balochistan Programme, Zabardast Khan Bangash shared the main objectives of holding this training. He informed that IUCN Pakistan under its six year Balochistan Partnerships for Sustainable Development Programme selected Quetta district as an urban centre and was striving for management of its Air Quality under the cross sectoral and thematic area of Climate Change.

This training was one of the outcomes of the recommendations of a committee “Quetta Clean Air Coordination Committee” constituted by the Environment Department Government of Balochistan. The training was conducted by international expert Dr. Dieter Schwela from Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, U.K and renowned national experts Dr. Pervaiz Amir, Dr. Badar Ghori from SUPARCO, Zia-ul-Islam, Engineer Aqib-ud-Din of IUCN . Secretary Environment, Government of Balochistan, in his inaugural speech acknowledged the efforts of IUCN in conservation, protection and rehabilitation and improvement of environment and natural resources. Highlighting the current air pollution and state of environment of Quetta Valley, he added that growing number of automobiles, auto rickshaws, heavy vehicles, brick kilns, stone crushing plants, industrial units, adulterated smuggled fuel, rapid urbanization and influx of population destroyed the environment of Quetta city. He said man made activities have created hazardous impacts on the natural atmosphere and made it unhealthy for breathing. He also emphasized on other stakeholders and players to come forward with tangible and action oriented plans like IUCN to enable the governmental institutions to combat air pollution and global warming.

The country representative IUCN Pakistan, Shah Murad Aliani, in his concluding remarks said IUCN’s mission was to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature. He stressed that critical issues like air pollution and its management should be considered from political, ethical, economical, social, spiritual, technological, administratively angles, and with the involvement of communities.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Faryal Ahmed
Communication & ESD Officer
Balochistan Partnerships for Sustainable Development
IUCN Balochistan Office
Marker Cottage, Zarghoon Road
Quetta

Tel: + 92 81 2840450
email: faryal.ahmed@qta.iucnp.org
 

About IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

Created in 1948, IUCN brings together 83 States, 111 government agencies, 800 plus NGOs, and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 148 countries in a unique worldwide partnership. The Union’s mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

The Union is the world's largest environmental knowledge network and has helped over 75 countries to prepare and implement national conservation and biodiversity strategies. The Union is a multicultural, multilingual organization with 1,000 staff located in 62 countries. Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland.

IUCN Pakistan has programmes from the north to the south of the country and multiple field projects. It is one of the nine Country Offices of IUCN's Asia Programme, covering 23 countries with a workforce of nearly 500.