Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 6 June 2023

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

MESSAGE ON THE OCCASION OF UN WORLD OCEANS DAY 2023

8 June 2023

The ocean is the foundation of life.

It supplies the air we breathe and food we eat.

It regulates our climate and weather.

The ocean is our planet’s greatest reservoir of biodiversity.

Its resources sustain communities, prosperity and human health around the world.

Humanity counts on the ocean.

But can the ocean count on us?

We should be the ocean’s best friend.

But right now, humanity is its worst enemy.

Human-induced climate change is heating our planet, disrupting weather patterns and ocean currents, and altering marine ecosystems and the species living there. 

Marine biodiversity is under attack from overfishing, over-exploitation and ocean acidification.

Over one-third of fish stocks are being harvested at unsustainable levels. 

And we are polluting our coastal waters with chemicals, plastics and human waste.

But this year’s World Oceans Day reminds us that the tides are changing. 

Last year, we adopted an ambitious global target to conserve and manage 30 per cent of land and marine and coastal areas by 2030, as well as a landmark agreement on fisheries subsidies.

At the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon, the world agreed to push for more positive ocean action.

A global, legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution is under negotiation.

And in March, countries agreed to the historic High Seas Treaty on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Realizing the great promise of these initiatives requires collective commitment.

Sustainable Development Goal 14 — to conserve and sustainably use the ocean’s resources — hangs in the balance.

This World Oceans Day, let’s keep pushing for action.

Today and every day, let’s put the ocean first.

***

UNDP

PRESS RELEASE

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s merged districts of Mohmand and Orakzai get their first-ever Model Police Stations

Islamabad, 06 June 2023 — United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan, the Government of Japan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Police jointly inaugurated the Model Police Stations in Kalaya, Orakzai District and in Ghalanai, Mohmand District, in a ceremony held in Islamabad today.

The Model Police Stations are unique police centres in merged districts, as they provide a range of new facilities to better serve the people of merged districts. Amongst others, these include a gender-responsive desk to address gender-based crimes reported to the police stations, a hall to convene joint community and police meetings, an investigation room, an office for station house officers, security posts, lodging facilities to accommodate  55 police personnel and separate holding rooms for men and women.

The Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, Mr Akhtar Hayat Khan, appraised the partnership with UNDP Pakistan and the Government of Japan to enhance access to justice services for people in the province including merged districts. “I am delighted to be here today, to inaugurate the first of its kind Model Police Station of Mohmand and Orakzai, which is a result of the collaboration between the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, UNDP Pakistan and the Government of Japan. This Model Police Station is one of the many initiatives that we are taking to strengthen the rule of law and provide better services to the citizens of these merged districts. These facilities will ensure that the police can respond to the needs and grievances of the people in a timely and effective manner. I hope that this Model Police Station will serve as an example for other police stations across the country.” 

Addressing the ceremony, the Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, H.E WADA Mitsuhiro, underlined, “Supporting security and justice sector institutions to provide people-oriented and gender-responsive services, especially in post-merger districts, is crucial in maintaining the rule of law in KP. The establishment of Model Police Stations in the merged districts will play an instrumental role in achieving this goal. We are  excited to be a part of this important journey, and are grateful to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police and UNDP Pakistan for their continual efforts to build peaceful and just communities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including merged districts.”

“Model Police Stations equipped and training provided to former Levies and Khasadars integrated into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police will ensure an improved formal policing and justice system in merged areas” stated  Ms Aliona Niculita, Officer In-Charge, UNDP Pakistan. Together, we remain resolute in enhancing people’ access to more inclusive, accessible, and efficient access to justice and security services in merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly for women and other marginalised groups.”

In 2022, under the same project, the UNDP Pakistan Rule of Law Programme also trained over 250 former Levies/Khasadar who were newly integrated into KP Police on professional people-friendly police services. Additionally, in the same year, the first-ever Policing Plans were developed and launched for the seven merged districts of KP to restore people-centred, accountable, and responsive policing in the region. In the near future, three more Model Police Stations will be established in Bajaur, North Waziristan and Kurram to support Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police in their efforts to improve security services in merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

These Model Police Stations were established by UNDP Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police as part of a project supported by the Government of Japan to strengthen the rule of law in merged districts of the province. The UNDP Rule of Law Programme is implementing a range of interventions to strengthen security and justice sector governance in Pakistan.

For additional information, please contact Tabindah Anwar at tabindah.anwar@undp.org or +92 (51) 835 5650

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet.

Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP

UNHABITAT

PRESS RELEASE

World Environment Day 2023

‘Solutions to Plastic Waste’

World Environment Day marks its 50th Anniversary this year (2023) and in the 5 decades the day has grown to be one of the largest global platforms for environmental outreach. This year Theme for World Environment Day was ‘Solutions to plastic pollution’[1]. Plastic pollution is a growing and serious concern in Pakistan as it ranked sixth globally and third in Asia among plastic waste generators[2] with the country producing 4 million tons of plastic waste annually. Karachi is identified as among the top 10 marine litter hotspots in the region, constituting an increasing risk to ecosystem health and biodiversity. This is rooted in unsustainable production and consumption patterns, poor plastic and solid waste management and lack of infrastructure, lack of adequate legal and policy frameworks and poor enforcement, and a lack of financial resources both at national and local governments. 

UN Habitat in collaboration with Ministry of Climate Change, Shehersaaz, and NUST celebrated World Environment day 2023 to create awareness to effectively manage the plastic waste and create a healthier society. The winners of the Art Competition held by UN Habitat on International Zero Waste Day 2023 were also announced and awarded aiming to create awareness in children and promote sustainable consumption and production patterns and contribute to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Dr. Muhammad Irfan. Principal & Dean. Professor. School of Civil & Environmental Engineering (SCEE) distributed the awards to the winners.

A Panel discussion was convened to dig out the challenges and to come up with the solutions to reduce and manage plastic pollution. The panelists include Mr. Jawed Ali Khan, HPM, UN Habitat; Dr. Imran Hashmi, Tenured Professor & Associate Dean, IESE, NUST; DR. Hira Amjad, Assistant Professor, IESE, NUST; Ms. Raina Saeed Khan, Chairperson, Islamabad Wildlife Management Board; Dr. Mansoor Ali; Team Lead, Waste Burning Program, Royal Academy of Engineering, UK; and Dr. Beenish Kulsoom, Lead Local Governance Program, Shehersaaz.

The panelists highlighted that that there is need for redesigning products & packaging, market assessment for reuse, refill & recyclability, increased awareness and advocacy, and effective implementation of legislations for beating plastic pollution in Pakistan. A strong need was felt for inclusion of producers responsibility in eliminating plastic pollution through defining and legislation under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Through collective action, we can achieve a world that is cleaner, greener, safer, healthier and happier, for us to live, work and play.

Ms. Almas Shakoor, Executive Director, Shehersaaz welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of awareness for an effective and efficient plastic waste management system which is critical for improving the productivity and sustainability of Pakistan centers.

Mr. Jawed Ali Khan in his opening remarks explained that UN Habitat is assisting cities through actions including waste data and monitoring, knowledge sharing, education and advocacy. As the cities grow, the problem of plastic and solid waste management is worsening. If the trend continues, 12 billion tonnes of plastic waste will be part of the environment by 2050. It is important that we work jointly towards reducing the plastic waste and promote its utilization for generating circular economy to reduce plastic pollution, value addition and increase resource efficiency.

Dr. Imran Hashmi and DR. Hira Amjad, deliberated that we must recognize that the restoration of nature is imperative to the survival of our planet and the human race. Academia is playing its role by providing the alternatives and students in the universities are doing research on different topics specifically related to Micro-Plastics. He highlighted that the research work done is not appropriately taken up by policy makers for integrating into the policies. This gap needs to be filled by working hand in hand.

Dr. Mansoor Ali described though National policies and legislations exist to address the plastic waste challenge but due to ineffective implementation, we are unable to beat the menace of plastic. There is a dire need to revise the legislations and their implementation strategies. Dr. Beenish Kulsoom said that it is important to identify the root causes for the ineffective local governance system for management of plastic waste. There exists overlapping of mandates of institutions working at the local level resulting in ineffective governance. The solution is to revisit the governance structure. Ms. Raina Saeed explained that awareness and advocacy plays a vital role in building awareness to the general public with respect to the impacts of plastic pollution in Pakistan and working for plastic free Margalla Hills Natural Park.

Citizens perspectives on challenges and solutions were also taken in which they showed concern on low awareness with respect to severity of the impact caused by plastic pollution on the wellbeing. Gardeners, Sanitary Workers and Forest Guards were payed tribute for their continuous efforts to clean the environment.

[1] Ibid

[2] Kouser, Shahzad & Subhan, Abdul & Abedullah, Abedullah, (2019). “Plastic Pollution in Pakistan and Plastic-Bag Free Initiative".