By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) Sukkur, in collaboration with UNICEF and under the framework of the Sindh Climate Change Policy 2022, organised a workshop in Sukkur to discuss strategies for environmental improvement and climate resilience.
Addressing the workshop, Additional Commissioner Sukkur Dr Muhammad Amir Ansari highlighted the need to implement national and provincial environmental legislation at the district level. “There are certainly challenges in implementation, but institutions must fulfil their responsibilities,” he said. He added that SEPA played a crucial role in enforcing the Sindh Climate Change Policy and urged senior officials to develop performance-based indicators, conduct biannual reviews, and involve all relevant institutions to assess progress.
UNICEF’s Water and Sanitation Officer for Sindh, Shakeeb Jan, warned that climate change posed serious threats to human health, water resources, agriculture, livestock, and wildlife. “There is an urgent need for coordinated and multifaceted measures,” he said.
Dr Gul Amir Sumbal, Assistant Director of SEPA’s Sukkur Regional Office, emphasised that climate change had multiple causes and its effects could not be eliminated immediately, though they could be mitigated through comprehensive efforts by local government, municipal authorities, health, education, irrigation, law enforcement, media, and social organisations.
UNICEF consultant Sajid Zaman noted that Pakistan was among the countries most affected by climate change, citing the region’s history of floods and other natural disasters. He highlighted a successful environmental improvement model implemented in Sujawal district, which would soon be extended to other districts with SEPA’s involvement. Zaman outlined climate risks, policy priorities, and effective measures to implement the Sindh Climate Change Policy, noting that the workshop aimed to raise awareness among stakeholders at district and divisional levels.
Environmental and technical experts said the workshop formed part of a three-year rolling work plan (2025–2027), jointly led by UNICEF, the Sindh government, and the Planning and Development Department. The initiative aimed to strengthen cooperation, improve water, sanitation, and hygiene systems, exchange ideas, and enhance departmental capacities for environmental initiatives at both provincial and local levels. They also stressed that climate resilience should be integrated into development planning, disaster risk reduction, and other sectoral policies in line with the provincial environmental agenda.
The workshop was attended by Commissioner Municipal Corporation Sukkur Ali Raza Ansari, social activist Sattar Zangejo, SEPA assistant directors Asadullah Tunio, Mir Murad Ali Talpur, Muhammad Shoaib, and officials from the Local Government, Police, Education, Health, Agriculture, Sindh Solid Waste Management Board, Public Health Engineering, Water and Sewerage Corporation, Works and Services, Provincial Disaster Management, and Irrigation departments. Representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Sarso, Nari Foundation, and other social organisations also participated.
Participants shared their recommendations for district-level implementation of the Sindh Climate Change Policy and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing joint efforts to address climate and environmental challenges across the province.
