Parliament to protect Margalla Hills & Islamabad environment, says Mushahid

ISLAMABAD:

The Senate Standing Committee on Climate Change on Friday gave final nod to The Islamabad Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Management) (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

The committee had a comprehensive discussion on the Bill proposed by Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi. The Bill focuses on four key amendments to the existing legislation, namely 1979 Ordinance.

The committee observed that the Bill aims to make the board truly representative in terms of professional experience and expertise and representative of Pakistan’s diverse and dynamic civil society.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed said that Abbasi’s specific contention about including members of Parliament as members of the IWMB would help serve the objective of making the board more representative.

They do qualify for the position as member of the board as they can act as a bridge between the government, public opinion and the lawmakers.

In any case, parliamentarians can be members of IWMB or any other such board as this is not an office of profit.

The Committee also gave ample opportunity to the secretary Climate Change whose track record shows strong commitment to the cause of climate change and environment.

The Secretary, however, opposed the Bill since the government plans to introduce a comprehensive legislation in this regard.

Mushahid observed that Javed Abbasi has introduced a concrete legislation which would be a step forward in improving the functioning of the IWMB.