Under the auspices of the Department of Public Relations (DPR), district Kotli celebrated World Environment Day. The event was led by the leadership of PUAN South AJK chapter. The event was marked by a workshop organized by DPR Kotli, which saw the participation of journalists from across the district. We were honored to have Dr. Sajida Rasheed, Head of the Department of Biotechnology at the University of Kotli, as our distinguished guest.
During her address, Dr. Sajida emphasized the need for the government to take steps towards waste recycling, plastic reuse, and the adoption of biodegradable alternatives. She also stressed the importance of public participation in creating a sustainable future. Let’s unite in reducing plastic usage, planting more trees, greening our cities, changing our diets, and cleaning up our oceans, rivers, and coasts to promote a plastic-free environment.
This year, World Environment Day, held on June 5, 2023, focused on tackling plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution. Our planet is facing a plastic crisis, with over 400 million tonnes of plastic produced annually, half of which is intended for single-use purposes. Shockingly, less than 10% of this plastic is recycled, leading to an estimated 19-23 million tonnes ending up in our lakes, rivers, and seas. Plastic pollution not only overwhelms landfills but also contaminates our oceans and releases toxic fumes when burned, posing a severe threat to our planet. Additionally, microplastics have infiltrated our food, water, and even the air we breathe, potentially endangering our health.
The workshop was chaired by Deputy Commissioner Haq Nawaz, and the District Information Officer, Shaukat Ali, served as the anchor. The proceedings were broadcasted live on social media platforms. At the end of the workshop, certificates of participation were distributed to all the attendees by the Deputy Commissioner.
Let’s take collective action to combat plastic pollution and preserve our environment for future generations!
