Prime Minister Imran Khan, while inaugurating the Karachi Nuclear Power Plant Unit-2 on Friday, said that reversing environmental fallout is important to protect future generations, and the power plant – set up in collaboration with China – would help provide clean and cost-effective electricity.
During the inauguration ceremony, which also marked 70 years of Pakistan-China relations, the premier spoke about Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, and the importance of taking measures to protect the country from the dangers of this global phenomenon.
While climate change poses a global threat, Pakistan is considered among the countries most vulnerable to its effects. Due to the global change in temperature, the glaciers in Pakistan’s north are prone to melting, which may lead to floods, causing food security issues for the country and displacement of populations from affected areas.
Although Prime Minister Imran refused to allow any more coal-fired power plants last year, there are other factors that contribute to the problem. One of them is unplanned urbanisation which causes environmental degradation through the reduction of green areas. However, the premier has issued directives to regulate urbanisation for environmental preservation.
Moreover, since the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf came to power, it has tried to replicate the massive tree plantation drive it undertook in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in other parts of the country to deal with environmental challenges. It has also converted brick kilns using traditional methods to zigzag technology.
While these measures were necessary, experts have suggested that a lot needs to be done to counter environmental problems, particularly those that pose threats to public health. Among these are unchecked vehicular and industrial emissions and stubble burning which not only contribute to global warming but are also responsible for the rise in PM2.5 concentration in the atmosphere.
Moreover, various studies have concluded that healthcare costs are likely to surge in the decades to come due to problems caused by environmental degradation.
On Friday, while speaking about the power production capacity of the nuclear plant, the premier said that it would produce 1,100MW of electricity to help meet Pakistan’s energy needs. He also appreciated Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission for its efforts in the nuclear energy sector.
Nuclear energy is considered to be safer for the environment, but the power plants are expensive to build, and there are concerns about accidents and radioactive waste which may pose threats to human health for thousands of years.
PAKISTAN-CHINA RELATIONS:
As both countries marked the 70th anniversary of their bilateral ties, the premier said that China’s cooperation through sharing its technology and expertise has helped the country build several projects in this sector.
Highlighting the strong relationship between the two countries, he said that the entire nation valued China as a time-tested friend and from which it could learn in multiple fields, including poverty eradication, agriculture enhancement, and anti-corruption practices.
On Thursday, the premier held a telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart, wherein both leaders affirmed the will to strengthen bilateral relations by diversifying cooperation between Pakistan and China.
