Sustainable Development impossible without safe industrial
production methods: Bukhari
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—Federal minister for environment and local government Syed Wajid Hussain Bukhari said that there is a dire need to increase global investments in efficient, clean and safe industrial production methods as these are key factors for sustainable development.
He expressed these views while addressing tenth special session of the governing council / global ministerial environmental forum of UNEP. The minister said there is a need for assisting countries particularly developing countries in increasing their capacities for sound management of chemicals and hazardous wastes. “ We also need to increase consumer awareness on issues of sustainable consumption and production world over” the minister added.
He said that adaptation, planning, financing and cost effective preventive actions need to be incorporated into national development processes and these actions need to be supported by scientific information, integrated climate impact assessment and local climate data calling for North-south and south-south collaboration. He said that UNEP should provide platform for initiating such collaboration. He said improved technologies need to be developed and mechanisms need to be devised whereby these technologies are deployed and obsolete non-environment friendly are phased-out throughout the globe regardless of economic and technological development status of nations. “ Strong linkages between the state of ecosystems and human well-being should be promoted including the aspects of poverty and health”; the minister said.
The minister said that Pakistan appreciates the commendable effort made by executive Director of UNEP in preparing medium term strategy which focuses on six cross-cutting thematic areas including climate change; disasters and conflicts; ecosystem management; environmental governance, harmful substances and hazardous wastes; resource efficiency sustainable consumption and production.