LAHORE: Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar has urged Ulema and religious scholars to sensitize the public to climate change and its harmful effects, as their opinions and suggestions carry weight with them. He was addressing a seminar on climate change at the Governor’s House, Lahore.

Chairman Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Dr. Saeed Elahi, Chairman PRCS Punjab Lt. Gen. (retired) Khalid Maqbool, Imam Badshahi Masjid and Chairman Majls-e-Ulema Pakistan Syed Abdul Khabir Azad, Maulana Mufti Syed Ashiq Hussain, Naeem Badshah, Hafiz Kazim Raza Naqvi, Allama Rashid Turabi, Sahibzada Syed Abdul Basir Azad, Maulana Abbas Ghazi, Qari Zahoor Ahmed, Maulana Adbus Sattar Niazi, a number of other Ulema and civil society representatives attended the seminar organized by the Pakistan Red Crescent Society.

On this occasion, a historic declaration underscoring the need for public sensitization to climate change was adopted. The declaration was signed by Governor Punjab Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar, Chairman PRCS Dr. Saeed Elahi Dr Saeed Elahi, Chairman PRCS Punjab Lt. Gen. (retired) Khalid Maqbool and eminent Ulema.

The governor said the Punjab government strictly adhered to its initiatives of climate safety, clean energy production, and integrated agriculture management and would stand by the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) during a disaster situation of any magnitude. He said Clean and Green Pakistan was an integral part of their manifesto and encouraging steps were being taken in this regard.

Continuing, Chaudhry Sarwar said initiatives like Billion Tree Tsunami, Renewable Energy Policy, permanent water management, protection of forests etc. had won appreciation at the national and international level.

“The role of Ulema with regard to climate change is of utmost importance. This challenge could be effectively tackled if the Ulema sensitize the public in their Jumma sermons. The PRCS deserves the highest accolade for creating awareness among the public about this serious environmental problem,” he added.
“We stand by the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) and assure it our full cooperation and assistance,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Saeed Elahi said the entire nation will have to work like one body to tackle this gigantic challenge otherwise ‘our future generations would be exposed to its harmful effects’.

He said that PRCS had joined the cause with the collaboration of its partner national Society-Germany and adopting the community-based approach. “Our commitment to climate change starts with the launch of Climate Advocacy and Coordination for Resilient Action (CACRA) which gives our team an opportunity to ascertain our unified commitment for working on climate change adaptation”, he added.

Speaking at the occasion, Lt. Gen. (retired) Khalid Maqbool said that climate change is a universal phenomenon that had impacted all countries in one way or the other and Pakistan is no exception. “From blinding smog to abrupt rise in temperature and from floods to famines all are devastating fallouts of climate change and we all have to work together to address these issues in effective manner”, he added.

The Ulema said pulpits played the role of seminaries and they will join the PRCS’s efforts to spread this message to every nook and cranny of the country.