Speakers emphasize on to reduce the use of plastic to zero and adopt alternate means

By our correspondent
SUKKUR: Deputy Mayor Sukkur Dr Arshad Mughal termed the Indus River as “Pakistan’s lifeline”, adding that the Living Indus initiative hopes to restore and repair the natural resources and ecosystems of the basin to ensure that they are resilient to climate change.
Addressing in an event titled ‘Clean the Indus River’, which was organised by Ministry of Climate Change and Living Indus Team with collaboration of Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO), World Wide Fund (WWF), Government of Sindh at river side of Sadhu Bela here on Tuesday.
He said that we must reduce the use of plastic to zero and adopt alternate means. People should cooperate with authorities to promote plastic-free practices,” he said and assured his maximum support in this connection.
Program Manager Living Indus Initiatives, United Nations , Ms Humaira Jahanzaib said the Indus River contributes 164,332 tonnes of plastic waste (to the sea) annually.
An estimated 624,200 tonnes of plastic is being produced annually in Pakistan, home to some 6, 000 plastic products’ manufacturers.
She said that the Living Indus Initiative is to safeguard, preserve, and rehabilitate the diverse natural ecosystems found in the Indus Basin, including terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine environments.
Chairman Nisar Sidiqui Town Commitee, Tariq Chuhan said major chemicals used in the manufacturing of plastic were highly toxic and cannot be digested by the earth even in centuries, which was why it posed a serious threat to living beings of all species on earth.
Senior Manager SRSO, Shahzaib Hussain Mahar in his address said Pakistan’s plastic manufacturing industry is thriving at an average annual growth rate of 15 per cent, campaigns aimed at making countries and oceans plastic-free are gaining strength across the world.
He emphasized encompassing the whole country, reviving its dying ecology is critical if we are to cope with the enhanced climate stress.
He said SRSO was working for a pollution free region and held scores of seminars, awareness rallies and other activities with SRSO manges communities in Sindh.
Sharing some data, representing the World Wide Fund Sukkur chapter, Toheed Ghani Mahesar said annually almost eight million tonnes of plastic entered oceans globally, which meant plastic accounted for 60 to 80 per cent of marine garbage.
He said the Indus River is the second most polluted river with plastic in the world while the first, third and fourth polluted rivers belong to China. The Nile River in Africa is fifth in this list,” he said.
Senior Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation, SRSO, Naveed Ishaq Memon said about 90% of Pakistan’s population and more than three-quarters of its economic activity is located within the basin, according to the document outlining the Living Indus Initiative. More than 80% of the country’s arable land is irrigated by the Indus’s waters and nine out of the country’s 10 largest cities are within 50 km of it, he added.
SRSO representative, Muhammad Akram Shaikh said floods will happen along the Indus, as temperatures fluctuate and precipitation becomes more unpredictable due to climate change.
Jamil Soomro, Ghulam Murtaza Ghanghro and others also spoke the occasion.
A number of teachers, female students, elected representatives and members of civil society attended the event.