3-Day PAS-CAS International Conference on “Emerging Issues of Environmental Degradation, Natural Hazards and Water Security”(June 2 – 4, 2024)
The 3-Day International Conference on “Emerging Issues of Environmental Degradation, Natural Hazards and Water Security”, was concluded here at the A.Q. Khan Auditorium of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), Islamabad on 04 June, 2024. The event was jointly organized by the Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). In his Opening Address, Prof. Dr. Aslam Baig (H.I., S.I., T.I) Secretary General PAS highlighted that the main objective behind organization of this International Conference was to unite leading international and national experts, academicians, researchers, policy makers, and industrial professionals to exchange knowledge, research findings, and practical solutions regarding the pressing challenges of environmental degradation, natural hazards and water security. He mentioned that the theme of this Conference is of immense importance not only for Pakistan but also for the developing and developed countries in the region. About 140 participants and invited speakers included those from QAU, Islamabad, GCU-Lahore, Peshawar University, NUST-Islamabad, PMAS-Rawalpindi, and others who attended the event physically and or virtually. The foreign participants included those from China, Canada, Denmark, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, UK, and USA. The Chines delegation was led by Prof. Dr. Xiangke Wang, Prof. Dr. Jian Lin and their accompanying team of academicians from Chinese Academy of Sciences. They collaborated with PAS in Co-hosting this event from 2-4 June, 2024 and interacted strongly with the local academicians, researchers and scholars. In total, thirty one (31) lectures were presented at this conference by eminent local and foreign speakers on a variety of topics in line with the thematic of the Conference in seven (7) Technical Sessions of this international conference. Of these, 11 lectures were delivered alone by the Academicians from the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The event was inaugurated on 02 June, 2024 by Prof. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed (H.I., S.I.) Chairman Higher Education, Government of Pakistan. He highlighted that we, the human beings are the major cause of environmental degradation leading to air, soil and water pollution, as well as climate change and water scarcity; and therefore, we are the ones who have to provide solution for its remedy. In his key note address, Prof. Dr. Kauser Abdulla Malik (H.I., S.I., T.I.), President Pakistan Academy of Sciences highlighted that since its inception, the Pakistan Academy of Sciences has been playing a critically important role in serving as a National Think Tank and is striving for the benefit of academicians, researchers in the domain of pure and applied sciences. In his concluding remarks on 04 June, 2024, Prof. Dr. Tasawar Hayat (H.I., S.I., T.I.), the Focal Person of this international conference mentioned that there is a dire need to address the challenges of environmental degradation, natural hazards and water security through collaborative thinking and planning both at the local and the regional level. He mentioned that this conference has offered several benefits to Pakistan and the region such as the following: (1) Access to Enhanced Knowledge and Expertise, (2) Exposure to international best practices and innovative solutions, (3) Policy Development and Viable Implementation Plans, and (4) Development of Regional Collaboration and Networking for development of long term sustainable strategies for better disaster preparedness and management against environmental degradation, natural hazards, water security, and climate change. He assured that the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences will continue to collaborate in finding practically viable and economic solutions to combat the pressing challenges of environmental degradation, natural hazards and water security.
