'Pakistan will get only $37 million from GCF to counter glacial outburst'

Pakistan will receive only $37 million out of the $100 billion Green Climate Fund (GCF) to counter glacial outburst in northern areas of the country, revealed secretary Climate Change. "An international fund of $100 billion has been established where Pakistan will be given only $37 million to counter damages causing due to floods from glacier," said the secretary while briefing the Senate Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas, which met with Mohammad Usman Khan Kakar in the chair, here on Monday.
The official further said that provincial governments will have to prepare plans to meet climate change challenges. After the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the role of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) is restricted to Islamabad territory. Reacting to the statement, the committee chairman said if the 18th amendment has been implemented in letter and sprite, 10-12 new ministries would not have been created. When it comes to responsilbites, lame excuses of funds shortage are presented, he added.
Kakar further said that $37 million fund, especially, for the protection of glaciers in northern areas, declared international assets of Sanobar trees in Balochistan is yet to be released, while the earthquake-affected areas including Swat, Chitral, Balakot, Awaran and Ziart have not yet been resettled. He directed that assistance should be released immediately to mitigate the affectees' problems.
To meet challenges of rapid climate and environmental changes, a comprehensive plan should be devised, said committee members. They directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) for providing machinery for reopening of roads, which were closed due to heavy snowfall in Kan, Kozhak, Ziarat, Mastung and Qilat. Building control code should be followed strictly across the country in general and earthquake-proof houses should be built in areas of natural calamities.
The committee members observed that no measures have been taken to protect glacier in Swat. If timely attention is not paid to challenges occurring due to climate changes, the country would become barren. It further recommended that instead of coal and thermal, focus should be given on gas, solar and wind power projects. Senator Kabir said that people of Ziarat and Balakot who had been affected by earthquake, are not being provided houses despite hue and cry. Sardar Azam Musakhel said that climate change challenges are greater in Balochistan.
Tanveer-ul-Haq Thanvi said that no measures have been taken for controlling pollen allergy in Islamabad as well as cutting of trees by builders in Karachi. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) officials informed that across the board assistance is being given to all provinces affected from natural calamites.
The federal government earmarked Rs 6.5 billion for affectees of earthquake 2015. A project has been prepared for setting up 16,000 houses in Awaran. On which the committee chairman stated that earthquake-proof houses should be built to avoid time and again damages to homes. Senator Azam questioned the 16,000 number while saying that houses were given only to influential people. Senator Kabir said a delegation from Saudi Arabia reached Awaran but the government institutions did not reach there.
The secretary said that Ministry of Climate Change is signatory of 19 international agreements, but its only work is co-ordination and policy work. In the annual development programme, only Rs 30 million were earmarked for the last fiscal year. For the current financial year, a grant of Rs 1 billion has been earmarked for Green Pakistan and tree plantation drives. The committee also directed to give latest radars and other equipment to the metrological department. The committee observed that about 30 percent areas are being covered with forest in other countries, however in Pakistan, it is less than 2 percent.