STAFF REPORT ISLAMABAD: Extensive research on biodiversity can help Pakistan manage and overcome most of its major economic and social problems pertaining to agriculture, livestock, food security, health, energy and innovations. We need to make concerted efforts and adopt a holistic approach for addressing the biodiversity issues.
During the proceedings of the symposium, the biologists from across the country in different technical sessions headed by experts presented their research papers and discussed various biodiversity issues, threats and their remedies.Dr. Shahzad A. Mufti, Advisor COMSATS, was the chief guest at the concluding session of the symposium.He discussed different threats to the biological resources of the country and urged the biologists and all the stakeholders to join hands for protection of biodiversity.He also called upon the relevant departments to launch effective awareness campaigns to disseminate information on importance of the biodiversity.
On the concluding day, the participants presented their recommendations which would be included in the book “Biodiversity of Pakistan” Volume-II, said PMNH Director General Syed Azhar Hasan.He said that these recommendations would help draft the action plan to protect the biodiversity for our future generations.The DG said being focal organization of biodiversity research, PMNH with the support of PSF and MoST was working actively to conserve biodiversity through different programmes.Dr. Muhammad Rafique, Convener of the Symposium, said the symposium was a great success as some 150 bio-scientists from across the country participated in it and shared their research findings with other experts working this field.He said the Symposium would go a long way to expedite efforts for conserving biodiversity on which existence of life on earth and future of mankind depends.In his remarks, Federal Minister for Science & Technology, Mir Changez Khan Jamali, stressed the need for realizing the gravity of biodiversity issues and to create public awareness among the masses for the betterment of future generations.
He said that in the current wake of global unrest and chaos, it is the people working in biodiversity who can steer their respective nations out of the fear of malnutrition, disease, famine and environmental degradation.“Pakistan is rich in terms of biodiversity and there is urgent need for conserving and securing all of the natural assets.Jamali also paid rich tributes to the PMNH toward highlighting the core issues and actual challenges regarding biodiversity and environment of the country.The Pakistan Science Foundation has a very vibrant role in arranging the three-day seminar. The main task of the Foundation is to promote and encourage extensive science research projects through launching various initiatives involving researchers.
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