RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: World Environment Day, which occurs on the 5th of June every year, and is the United Nation’s principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment, was celebrated by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) here on Monday.

The theme for today’s year was ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ and the agency arranged lecture on ‘Reducing Plastic Pollution: the need of holistic strategy.’

Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) President Tahir Javed Malik, Ms Rabia Chaudhry Deputy Secretary Admin, EPD Punjab and others attended the event.

Director General EPA Punjab Asif Iqbal read out the welcome address and emphasized upon protection of environment by beating plastic pollution.

Dr Asif Ali Qaiser, Chairman Polymer Department, UET, Lahore delivered a key note lecture on the topic while Dr Sultan Managing Director ECO Care shown a presentation and video clip on plastic pollution.

Chief Organiser, Naseem-ur-Rehman speaking on this occasion said that as a responsible citizen, we must take precautions while using plastic products, reduce the consumption and encourage others to do the same. He asked for adopting 5Rs, refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and remove plastic in our daily lives to beat plastic pollution.

He said theme of this year urges governments, industry, communities and individuals to come together and explore sustainable alternatives. The first step towards change is awareness. The second is acceptance. Plastic is accumulating in our oceans at an alarming rate. Toxins accumulate up the food chain, impacting our dinner plate. Punjab Forest Department on this occasion distributed free saplings among participants and requested to plant trees to mitigate smog in winters and reduce pollution and temperature.