ISLAMABAD: An important meeting was held on Tuesday at the CDA headquarters under the chairmanship of Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Muhammad Ali Randhawa. The meeting conducted a detailed review of measures related to environmental improvement and the carbon credit program in the Federal Capital, Islamabad. The meeting was attended by Member Environment Esfandyar Baloch, DG Environment and other senior officers, while the Ex Chief Conservator of Forests of the Sindh Government Hyder Raza and his team joined the meeting via Zoom link.
Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that the CDA is implementing comprehensive planning to improve the environmental standards of Islamabad. He said that in this regard, the CDA aims to fully leverage global environmental frameworks such as carbon credits.
Chairman CDA mentioned that to obtain carbon credits, the CDA is working on several projects, including converting brown land into green areas, upgrading the Gardnia Hub nursery, improving the solid waste management system, and the project of 160 electric buses. He said that these projects will not only reduce environmental pollution but will also help make the capital a sustainable and eco-friendly city in line with global standards.
Chairman CDA appreciated the experiences of the Sindh Forest team and said that the CDA wishes to benefit from the Sindh Government’s expertise and best experiences in the environmental sector. He mentioned that in this connection, the Chief Conservator of Forests Sindh would provide technical support during the pre-documentation phase of the carbon credit program to expedite and make the planning stages more effective regarding incorporation of carbon credit into the projects.
Chairman CDA said that major cities in Pakistan face climate change and environmental challenges, and cooperation between provinces and federal institutions is essential to address them. He said that through inter-provincial cooperation, Pakistan can play a significant role in the global carbon credit program.
Chairman CDA further added that both sides should ensure close contact and effective coordination, and a working mechanism between technical teams should be devised in this regard to ensure practical progress in the carbon credit program in Islamabad.
