Islamabad: January 24, 2014. (PCP) Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Chairman of the Senate sub-Committee on Environmental Degradation of Islamabad convened the first ever Public Hearing in the history of parliament on environment at Parliament House today. The Public Hearing was very well attended by the representatives of the government including the Cabinet Division, Climate Change Division, CDA and the Environmental Protection Agency as well as parliamentarians, media and civil society representatives. Senator Mushahid Hussain said that the right to a Clean and Green Islamabad is the fundamental right of the citizens of Islamabad and it was in this context that the were given to formulate an Environmental Action Plan which will then be implemented by the relevant government departments. He said cutting of trees is a crime and environment is a national issue, above party or provincial lines. He gave a directive for implementation which included: a) Proposal for waste management system of utilizing almost 700 tons of waste generated daily in Islamabad and their conversion into energy; b) Coping with the menace of plastic bags including a plan of recycling of plastic bags; c) Designating a site in Islamabad for disposal of hospital and clinics waste; d) Notice to 16 illegal stone crushers who are destroying the ecology of Islamabad; and e) Initiation of a public awareness campaign for implementation of existing laws and preparing future laws plus also a review of what is to be done to preserve, promote and protect the environment of Islamabad. The sub-Committee also presented a vote of thanks to the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Justice Tassaduq Hussain Jillani for his directive to the CDA regarding preserving the environment of Islamabad. Senator Mushahid Hussain also appreciated the services of the former Chief Justice Mr. Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in this regard. Senator Mushahid Hussain said that it would be a private/public partnership and it would be a collective effort for the common goal. The Public Hearing had presentations by Mr. Ayaz Amir, Columnist, a documentary by Dr. Abid Sulehri, President, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Ms. Cristina Afridi, civil society activist and Mr. Shaban Khalid, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry, as well as environmental expert from the European Union, who prepared a research paper on the subject. The next meeting of the sub-Committee will be held on Monday, February 10, 2014 at 11.00 am at Parliament House which will include a briefing on climate change as well as a follow up to the directions given by the Senate sub-committee today.