Pakistan consulted on safeguard policy update

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

ISLAMABAD, Mar 27 : Consultations on the update of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) environmental and social safeguard policies started in Islamabad to take feedback from representatives of government, civil society, private sector and academic institutions from across the country.
The meeting is the 10th in a series of consultations across the Asia and Pacific region on the safeguards, which are being updated to enhance their relevance and strengthen their effectiveness.
The safeguards are a set of protection measures that require ADB financed projects to avoid harm to people and the environment, and if avoidance is not possible then minimise, mitigate and or compensate for adverse impacts of these projects, said ADB press release here on Thursday.
ADB currently has three safeguard policies that cover the environment, indigenous peoples, and involuntary resettlement. The update will consolidate all three into one, which will allow a more holistic approach to ensuring that affected communities and the environment are best protected.
“The purpose of the consultation workshop is to listen to the views of stakeholders in Pakistan to inform the formulation of the updated policies,” said Ms. Xiaoying Ma, ADB Senior Environment Specialist, who is leading the consultations.
“This is a transparent and inclusive process. ADB is encouraging the participation of all stakeholders, including civil society and indigenous peoples’ organizations.”
“Our intention is for the final policy update to emphasize clear, robust, results-orientated principles and requirements in order to better protect people, communities and the environment that are impacted by development projects financed by ADB.”
The consultation draft was posted on ADB’s Web site for comments until 30 April 2008. After the consultations, a draft policy will be prepared and made available for additional comments.