Islamabad: Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), successfully held a Capacity Assessment Workshop for the Sound Management of Chemicals and Hazardous Waste today at the Margalla Hotel,Islamabad.
A diverse group of government officials, industryrepresentatives, international organizations, and civil society stakeholders attended the workshop, and stressed on assessing the national capacities and identifying gaps in the management of chemicals and hazardous waste in Pakistan.
The event was part of the Ministry’s ongoing project titled Strengthening National Legislation and Capacity Building of Stakeholders for Sound Chemicals and Hazardous Waste
Management in Pakistan, supported by UNEP’s Special Programme Fund.
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The workshop marks a significant step toward enhancing the legal and institutional frameworks for managing chemicals and hazardous waste in the country.
In his welcome remarks, Hammad Shamimi, Additional Secretary-II of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination,
highlighted the importance of sound management of chemicals and
hazardous waste for the protection of public health and sustainable development in Pakistan.
He emphasized that the country’s commitment to international conventions such as the Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm, and Minamata Conventions reflects a
growing need to strengthen national systems and build capacity at all
levels.
The workshop featured presentations from key experts, including Dr.Mohsina Zubair, Deputy Director (Chemical), Bushra Afzal,National Consultant and Sajid Raza, National Project Coordinator.
They provided insights on the existing governance mechanisms for
chemical management and the critical capacity gaps that need to be
addressed.
Participants also engaged in group activities to assess the
effectiveness of regulatory and institutional frameworks, the role of NGOs and civil society in chemical management, and strategies to
integrate chemicals management into national development plans.
In his closing remarks, Muhammad Zahid Mustafa, Deputy Secretary (International Cooperation),emphasized the importance of the
report: “The Capacity Assessment and Gap Analysis Report will pave the way for an actionable, integrated framework for chemical management in Pakistan, which is crucial for protecting our environment and public health.”
The workshop also saw the involvement of international partners,
including a presentation on ILO Convention 170 on Chemicals, underscoring the importance of addressing labor safety in chemical management practices.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination is committed to implementing the recommendations from the workshop, with continued support from UNEP and other international workshop highlighted the pressing need for a more coordinated and integrated approach to hazardous waste management in line with Pakistan’s international commitments under the Basel, Rotterdam,
Stockholm, and Minamata Conventions.
