Islamabad (Khyber Mail): Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology, Ms. Sabheen Ghoury, has emphasized the need for consistent governmental policies to tackle transnational environmental challenges, calling for collaborative approaches to achieve sustainable progress.
Speaking at a roundtable titled “Pak-China’s Vision for a Sustainable Future: Ecological Civilization, Environmental Security, and Global Harmony,” organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in partnership with China Global Television Network (CGTN) Urdu, Ms. Ghoury highlighted China’s ecological advancements as a role model for Pakistan.
President IRS Ambassador Jauhar Saleem opened the session by acknowledging China’s commitment to mitigating environmental impacts while advancing industrial growth. He noted that, alongside economic and defense cooperation, Pakistan and China are working closely on climate resilience and adaptation strategies.
CGTN Urdu’s Program Coordinator, Mr. Tasawar Zaman Babar, praised Pakistan’s enduring relationship with China, stressing the importance of aligning economic growth with environmental sustainability in the face of climate challenges.
Mr. Khalid Taimur Akram, Executive Director of PRCCSF, echoed the call for regional cooperation, praising CPEC’s alignment with China’s Clean Green Energy initiative. Meanwhile, former EPA Director-General Asif Shuja Khan urged strategic environmental assessments (SEA) for CPEC and advocated for low-sulfur coal and tree plantations along the corridor to promote carbon neutrality.
Dr. Shakeel Ahmad Ramay of AIERD highlighted China’s ecological philosophy rooted in Confucian teachings and warned against unplanned transitions to electric vehicles (EVs) without adequate infrastructure. Former Climate Change DG Mr. Irfan Tariq emphasized lessons from China on improving air quality and glacier preservation.
The session concluded with Senior Research Fellow Dr. Rizwan Naseer commending China’s leadership in green energy and its role in global climate governance. Participants unanimously agreed that Pakistan could benefit greatly by adopting China’s ecological strategies to address environmental and developmental challenges.