The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) hosted a seminar titled illegal constructions in water bodies in peri-urban regions of the federal capital to spark debate and provide actionable solutions to address the looming issue.
The experts demanded that a close coordination and mutual implementation framework to enforce the law is required in order to prevent illegal constructions and encroachment in water bodies near peri-urban areas, which can result in serious natural hazards like urban flooding, land degradation, and water pollution.
In his introductory remarks, Executive Director SDPI Dr. Abid Qayum Suleri stated that the webinar and hybrid seminar organized on this issue becomes more important every monsoon season in the country.
Romina Khurshid Alam, Minister of State and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister and Convener of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Secretariat stated that the issue is connected to SDG 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
As a civil society coalition is essential for making significant progress on legislation implementation, we will critically consider the proposals provided through this forum, she added.
In addition, DG Pak-EPA Farzana Altaf Shah previewed a brief documentary made by the agency on encroachments, human settlements, and other peri-urban regions that were damaging land and freshwater channels.
