Funded by the U.S Embassy, Pakistan-U.S. Alumni Network’s (PUAN) Sukkur Chapter organized a country project under the ‘Climate Change Effects on Society’ by conducting an awareness session in Sukkur in September. The event was attended by more than 80 participants, including PUAN Sukkur Alumni, Executive Committee members, officials from the non-profit sector and local government representatives.
Mr. Issac Samuel, an alumnus of Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program 2018, gave introductory remarks and said that the event aims to raise awareness on climate change and explore solutions that can be implemented on individual and community levels within Pakistan to prevent global warming.
Several experts were invited to share their opinion and insight on the theme. Mr. Flitz Bohmer, the CEO of Solar-b Innovative Square (Pvt) Ltd. and a prominent renewable energy expert, spoke about how climate change is affecting Pakistan in particular and the benefits of using sustainable energy sources, instead of using fossils fuel, to protect the earth’s ozone layer. The second guest speaker, Engineer Abid Ali Abro who is serving as Assistant Professor at Khairpur College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Sindh Agriculture University discussed the impacts of climate change on water availability and agriculture. He said:
“Pakistan is among the countries most at risk from global warming. We need to plant more trees, conserve water and use alternative sources of energy to cope with the changes in the environment.”
Mr. Prem Chand Advani, a youth researcher from IBA University in Sukkur, elaborated upon the role that young people can play to cope with these challenges. He said that more plantation nurseries should be set up in villages, cities and on the embankments of canals to cope with extreme heatwaves and other climatic hazards which impact Pakistan’s agricultural economy and livelihoods of people.
The session’s Chief Guest was Ms. Azra Jamal who is a senior social activist and an Officer in the Municipal Corporation Department, Sukkur City. She said:
“It is the prime responsibility of every citizen to plant a sapling in their home, locality, and workplace to cope with climate change.“
On the occasion, Dr.Faiz Sheikh, Assistant Professor at SZABIST University Larkana and SISTECH Sukkur, also congratulated the event management team for organizing this event and encouraged the students to apply for various scholarships opportunities offered by PUAN and the U.S. Government.
Mr. Abid Lashari, Vice President PUAN Sukkur chapter, also gave a brief presentation on PUAN’s structure, operations and chapter activities while Ms. Shanza Gul, PUAN Exchange Ambassador, and Ms. Aleena Jokhio, Youth Group Director, spoke about the various opportunities offered by PUAN through its different exchange and academic programs.
