On 30th September 2020 , a workshop titled “Unfolding Environ mental Activities & Determining Need for Future Course of Action” was organized by the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), Government of Pakistan along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under their GGEB initiative.

Environmental information management (EIM) is pertinently important for sustainable development. Countries around the globe have established their EIM systems. The hard reality remains that Pakistan, to date, does not have any integrated EIM system. GGEB programme under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Saleem Janjua, Country Coordinator of UNDP-Pakistan aims to establish an integrated and robust Environmental Information Management System (EIMS) for Pakistan. In this regard, capacity building of relevant stakeholders is pertinently important, and this remains one of the key targets of GGEB project.

The objective of this workshop was to inform participants with major environmental activities, identify areas of improvement, and determine the future course of action for the country.

Dr. Janjua formally opened the workshop and in his key address presented the brief overview of the UN and Government of Pakistan’s initiatives related to environment. The establishment of EIMS is pertinently important to fill data and information gaps.

Mr. Irfan Tariq, Director General (Environment), Ministry of Climate Change appreciated the efforts of UNDP for organizing workshop on an important topic and remarked the establishment of EIMS was vital for the environmental sustainability of Pakistan. The remarks session was followed with a detailed talk by Mr. K.M Zubair, Expert (Environment, Energy, Legal) titled “Unfolding Environmental Activities & Determining Need for Future Course of Action”. The talk was followed by remarks from Mr. Mirza Hasib H. Baig, Mr. Nusrat Gill-Chief Environment and Climate Change, P&D Board, Lahore and Mr. Mumtaz Hussain, Environmental Specialist. The remarks session was followed by comments and suggestions from various participants. Stakeholders/Participants from different departments and organizations unanimously stressed on the need of robust environmental information management system for Pakistan and the role that development programmes like GGEB, through UNDP assistance, can play. It was unanimously agreed that reforms in environmental planning is requisite in Pakistan to ensure sustainable development and all government departments, stakeholders should play their role in a coordinated manner for addressing key issues and safeguarding environment of Pakistan