PESHAWAR, July 31: Instead of taking immediate measures to protect environment by implementing existing policies, laws and strategies, the provincial environment department is formulating yet another environment policy to address the needs of the province.

The provincial environment department has prepared a draft of the ‘NWFP Environment Policy’, which was presented here on Thursday at a workshop.

The environment department also said it would welcome recommendations to be incorporated in the draft policy.

The preamble of the proposed policy says it will provide framework for addressing environmental issues of the NWFP, particularly water pollution, air pollution, improper waste management, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, soil degradation, land use planning and natural disasters, according to Environmental Protection Agency director-general Dr Bashir Khan.

The NWFP environment policy also recognises the goals and objectives of the National Conservation Strategy, National Environmental Action Plan, Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy and other existing environment-related national policies, strategies and action plans.

The proposed policy will provide broad guidelines to the provincial government and local governments for addressing environmental concerns and ensuring effective management of their environmental resources. The policy is also meant to generate sufficient activities to promote healthy environment and achieve sustainable, said Dr Bashir.

NWFP Minister for Environment Wajid Ali Khan, invited to the event, said the proposed environment policy was aimed at achieving sustainable development through protection, conservation and restoration of environment with participation of the local community in order to improve the quality of life of the general public.

He elaborated on the need for protecting environment. He said agricultural land was shrinking due to increase in population and lack of proper planning and land zoning.

Under the proposed policy, preservation and protection of prime agriculture land, land planning and zoning would be ensured.

He directed the authorities concerned to take effective measures for providing alternative sources of energy in order to reduce pressure on natural resources such as forests.

Secretary for environment Hussainzada said the proposed policy needed a lot of modification so that it could be implemented to facilitate the general public.

Dr Bashir said 300 tons of solid waste remained un-lifted by municipal committees in the Peshawar city, causing dangerous diseases.

He said the government apart from installing wastewater treatment plants would also implement master plans for treatment of municipal and industrial wastewater in urban and rural areas.

Some of the participants suggested changes in the environmental policy during the workshop.

They proposed that socio-economic conditions of the NWFP should be considered while formulating an environment policy.

Some salient features of the policy are sectoral guidelines for sustainable development, protection, conservation and restoration of environment.

The policy stresses access to safe water, waste management, forestry, quality monitoring system, enforcement of the National Environmental Quality Standards on industries, development, facilitation and enforcement of clean technologies, enforcement of building bylaws, promotion of four-stroke CNG rickshaws and CNG public transport and other initiatives in sectors closely related to environment.

After approval of the policy, the environment department would develop an action plan for its implementation.

A provincial environment policy implementation committee comprising officials and members from the civil society and the corporate sector, chamber of commerce and industry would be established at the provincial level.