Pakistan

Updated 17 July 2017

Chapter Leader:

Mumtaz Hussain, Engineer, Environmental Consultant and Editor “The Environ Monitor”. W-715, Defence Housing Authority, Lahore, 54792 Pakistan
E-mail address: theenvironmonitor@gmail.com

Deputy Chapter Leader:

Qamar Dar, AJ&K University, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan
E-mail: darqamar80@yahoo.com

The IMGA Local Chapter in Pakistan was established in 2013.

June 2017

No update.

December 2016

No update.

November 2015

6-month report from Local Chapter Leader Dr. Mumtaz Hussain.

The activities of IMGA Pakistan Chapter during last six months are highlighted in the following:

• • Conferences.  The subject of Medical Geology was introduced in the conferences held as under:
    

    –	Climate Change: Implications and Management Strategies on 21 February 2015
    –	Management of Prevalent Diseases in Pakistan on 11 April 2015
    –	Seven Billion Dreams: One Planet Consume with Care 30 May 2015
    –	Children’s Exposure to Environmental Hazards: Health Impacts and Safeguards 30 September 2015

• Mutual Exchange of Information
  

• Membership Campaign
  

  It has remained below the mark. An effort will be made to improve this sector.

June 2015

6-month report from Local Chapter Leader Dr. Mumtaz Hussain.

General

In general performance of IMGA-PAKISTAN CHAPTER has remained satisfactory with respect to introducing Medical Geology among geological and medical circles and professional events. However, membership campaign is yet to gain momentum. We will soon be able to increase membership.

Participation in Events

We participated in following events and highlighted Medical Geology:

• World Water Day 2015 – Consultative Assembly of Pakistan Youth Parliament for Water at P-Block Auditorium, Pak Secretariat, Islamabad on March 27, 2015
  
• Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Pakistan seminar on energy audit on 25 February 2015. Engineer Mumtaz Hussain made presentation on Energy Audit: Eco-Implications and Management Strategies.
  
• National conference on Climate Change: Implications and Management Strategies held on 21 February 2015 at Lahore. Recommendations are as under:
  

  –	International Cooperation under UN
  	United Nations needs to act as Apex Coordination Body through IPCC with a view to integrate the inputs of member countries for mitigating adverse impacts of climate change. This body should meet regularly on quarterly basis for review of the progress made and further harmonist.
  –	Sharing of Information
  	Extensive sharing of information and research outcomes should be done so that impacts of global warming and snowball may be minimized.
  –	Formulating Policies
  	National level policies should be formulated on multifarious aspects of climate change in light of the UN guideline. Relevant stakeholders need to be involved in such activities.
  –	Awareness and Educational Programmes
  	Electronic, print and social media should be optimally utilized to launch mass awareness programmes. Such speedy passage of information will help the respective policy makers and planners to undertake effective measures against impending issues of climate change well in time. Formal educational courses in the academic institutions will certainly help in equipping the students with necessary technical know-how.
  –	Conducting R&D on Health
  	Health of human beings and other living organisms is being negatively impacted. There is dire need of conducting researches on health of human beings, animals and plants in various countries at national, regional & global levels. In this regard health of children and women is more at stake especially in developing world.
  –	Combating Natural Calamities
  	Natural calamities like volcanoes, earthquakes, floods & droughts have been occurring in the world. These are causative factors for climate change. These further aggravate the ensuing impacts. These should be suitably managed at all echelons.

• Conference on Commuting with Dignity: A Political Dialogue on Sustainable Urban Transport in Pakistan held under arrangement Parkstran (IUCN) on 10 February 2015 at Islamabad.
  
• Consultative workshop on Gaps and Opportunities for Sustainability of Rawalpindi/Islamabad Metro Bus Project held under arrangement Parkstran on 26 January 2015 at Islamabad.
  
• National Seminar on Management of Prevalent Diseases in Pakistan: World Health Day 2015. Recommendations are as under:
  

  –	Awareness programs about prevalent diseases in Pakistan should be launched vigorously through media.
  –	Basic Health Care should form part of curricula in schools and colleges.
  –	All stakeholders should work together for environmental preservation at all levels.
  –	The federal and provincial governments should make master plans for providing clean air, potable water and pure food to all citizens.
  –	The federal and provincial governments should enhance budgetary allocation for health.
  –	It is recommended to use modern tools for management of prevalent diseases.
  –	There are significant and growing opportunities for collaboration between the geoscience and human health science for understanding
  	and defining interactions between the natural (geological) environment and human health.

Future Events

• World Environment Day 2015 National Conference on Seven Billion Dreams, One Planet, Consume with Care will be held at Lahore on 30 May 2015.
  
• Mr. Qamar Dar (Chapter Secretary) has recently joined MSc Geology classes in Punjab University. He has promised to take active part in the Chapter activities.

2014

The Pakistan Chapter arranged two events titled Water and Waste Treatment and Environmental Health on 20 and 21 June, 2014 respectively. In these conferences the role of Medical Geology was specially highlighted.

Members also participated in events arranged by other Organizations.

During November 2014 we held a conference on Multi Modal Transport Systems in which Eco and Health aspects were included.