The renowned Environmental Jurists and Environmentalist were invited from all over Pakistan in this conference as resource persons to deliberate on the current state of environment and challenges in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan as well as environmental legal framework.

Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Country Representative, IUCN Pakistan was invited as one of the speakers. He spoke on the global and national environmental challenges. Mr. Cheema observed that global warming leads to rising temperatures of the oceans and the earth’s surface thus causing melting of polar ice caps, rise in sea levels and also creating un-natural patterns of precipitation such as flash floods, excessive snow or desertification.

He mentioned that rapid and unplanned urbanization is a big threat to natural resources, humans and ecosystems. He said that pollution of air, water and soil require millions of years to recoup. He also warned of the emerging global crisis due to over consumption and creation of plastics.

The other distinguished participants included: Justice Sardar Muhammad Shamim Khan, Senior Judge of the Lahore High Court; Justice Muhammad Farrukh Irfan Khan, Judge of the Lahore High Court; Chairman Environmental Tribunal AJK Justice Sadaqat Hussain Raja; Additional Chief Secretary (Development) and Secretary environment of AJK Dr. Syed Asif Hussain; Director General Environmental Protection Agency of Azad Jammu Kashmir Government, Raja Muhammad Razaq; Brig Akhtar Hussain Shah, Director General Kashmir Institute of Management; Mr. Abuzar Salman Khan Niazi, Advocate Lahore High.

At the conclusion of the session souvenirs were also presented to the speakers.