ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Climate Change on Monday affirmed that Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Higher Education Commission (HEC) entities must be made a part of its board.

This was decided during the meeting of Board of Governors of “Global Change Impact Study Centre” at Ministry of Climate Change under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Climate Change, Zahid Hamid.

Tariq Banuri, Executive Director of Global Change Impact Study Centre gave the introduction of the institute the members’ discussed about the basics and implementation framework of board of GCISC.

The meeting started with an approval of 3rd Board of Governors meeting. The introduction held to know about basic research goals and methods, projects and models and focused on the provision of basic framework for management. A lack of study about glaciers was also highlighted along with Water capacity in ground waters and rivers.

A discussion about increase in numbers of board members was also discussed along with capacity building of board entities including technical, institutional, infrastructure, communication capacities and memo items (concept of Corporate Capabilities). The initiation of training programmes and mentoring of board members by researchers was also proposed along with promoting Climate Change studies, especially Master programme in this field and measures for better understanding of the climate changes.

Different recommendations were given including taking into consideration the marine coastal lines and desert lines and proper time framework for working of board. It was decided to donate old computers to a school.

The Board also approved to revise the board centre and addition of seats as well. It was discussed to ask government for funds along with financial support from NGOs and other resources.

The minister in the ending session proposed to add “Climate” in the name of Global Change Impact Study Centre also. The hiring of social scientists along technical experts was also discussed and appreciated by the members.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary Ministry of Climate Change, Syed Abu Ahmed Akif, Vice chairman of Board of Governors, Dr Tariq Banuri, Executive Director Of Global Change Impact Study Centre, Malik Aman, Ministry of Finance, Fazal Abbas Maken, Ministry of Science and Technology, Muhammad Abid Javed, Secretary Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Dr Ghulam Rasool, Director General PMD, Ijaz Ahmed Bhutta from SUPARCO, Lt General Omer Mahmood Hayat, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority and provincial experts also attended the meeting.—NNI