Introduction Background to the NCS Pakistan National Conservation Strategy (PNCS) is widely regarded as having been instrumental in promoting the concept of sustainable development¾ an integration of social, environmental and economic goals so as to meet the need of tomorrow as well as today. The Cabinet approved the PNCS on March 1, 1992. It is held to form the basis of a strategy at the national level integrating environmental conservation, social and economic imperatives, and the elaboration of principles for their practical integration. The stated purpose of PNCS is to focus attention on the priority requirements for conservation, to stimulate appropriate action, to raise public consciousness, and to overcome any apathy or resistance. The NCS involved numerous complex inputs from many sectors. In addition to the work of scientists, contributions from institutional development specialists and other social scientists required the co-ordination of diverse interdisciplinary teams.-   Content of the NCS The NCS covers two main areas. The first describes the current state of natural resource utilisation and the state of environmentally related policies and institutions. The second area is prescriptive, outlining a set of actions required, based on the analysis of existing deficiencies. The descriptive discussion on the state of Pakistan’s environment implicitly divides natural resources into three categories: Directly productive natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable. This category includes soils, range-lands, fisheries, forests, oil, gas and coal. Natural resources that act as sinks, absorbing industrial or biological effluents. Examples are air pollution and the contamination of water through chemical or biological effluents. Natural resources that neither have intrinsic productive value nor affect the value of other natural resources but have amenity value, i.e. their existence has an ethical or religious value. This would be true of cultural heritage sites, many animal species, and bio-diversity. . The NCS uses this classification to examine different aspects of Pakistan’s environment. One class of issues addresses the effect of urban pollution on natural resources and related adverse effects on their economic contribution. The analysis is supported by data on the economic costs of certain types of pollution. Analytically, the NCS emphasises the divergence between private and social costs and the implicit "subsidy" being given to investors who are not required to make financial contributions towards rectification costs that are external to their unit of production. The second class of environmental problems analysed refers to damage caused to productive natural resources. The NCS discusses the causes of damage to soils in croplands in different agro-ecological zones. Waterlogging and salinity are familiar problems in irrigated areas, as are desertification in barani croplands and the fragile base of upland mountain agriculture. Causes of deforestation and deterioration in range-lands are also discussed. The third component contains the conservation aspect of the NCS, which focuses on the protection of amenity values. Sites of cultural importance, endangered species and key bio-diversity issues are listed. Inadequate financial resources, disinterest and lack of awareness are stated as the principal causes of deterioration in this area. Finally, the review of current institutions, policies and regulations affecting the use of natural resources highlights the lack of coherence, conflicting signals and poor implementation capacity even where the policies are appropriate. The descriptive analysis forms the base of the subsequent prescriptive sections which contain a mixture of legal, technical, institutional and economic recommendations to address natural resource degradation. The prescriptive sections commence with a statement of the three broad objectives of the NCS: conservation of natural resources; sustainable development; greater efficiency in the use and management of resources. The three objectives are followed by three operational principles achieve greater public partnership in development and management; merge environment and economics into decision making; and focus on durable improvements in the quality of life. Fourteen core programme areas are identified for policy action: maintaining soils in croplands increasing irrigation efficiency protecting watersheds supporting forestry and plantations restoring rangelands and improving livestock protecting water bodies and sustaining fisheries conserving biodiversity increasing energy efficiency developing and deploying renewables preventing and abating pollution managing urban wastes supporting institutions for common resources integrating population and environment programmes preserving the cultural heritage The NCS explicitly defines three priority areas within the above groups: maintaining soils in croplands preventing and abating pollution and increasing energy efficiency The major critical environmental concerns, as analysed in the NCS, including some specific issues which have a bearing on the link between environment and economic development and public welfare are listed in Box 1.1. Box 1.1 Major Environmental Concerns Natural resource management problems emerging from incessant pressure on traditional economic activities. Thus, problems such as waterlogging and salinity have had an adverse effect on soils due to the pressure on irrigated agriculture. Problems that have emerged from more recent economic imperatives. These issues are likely to become more dominant in the future due to structural transformation in the economy. Problems of industrial discharges and urban pollution have increasingly acquired considerable prominence within the agenda of environmental concerns in Pakistan. Concerns relate to efficient use of scarce natural resources. In this content, Pakistan’s environmental concerns have revolved around more efficient use of energy and water. Concerns related to the protection of various species, threatened by extinction. These species may have no productive use, but their protection is sought after on the basis of amenity values that emerge from cultural, social or religious concerns. Specific Issues Related to the Links Between Environmental Impact of Past Pattern of Economic Growth  Pakistan has a high rate of population growth that causes an increasing pressure on its natural resource base and the environment. Less than 20% of the 88 million hectares of the country has the potential for intensive agricultural use. The amount of cultivable land is nearly matched by the amount of land actually being cultivated. Watershed lands in the upper Indus and its tributaries suffer from unfavourable soil and moisture regimes. Pakistan relies on irrigation for more than 90% of its food an fibre production. Only about one third of diverted water reaches the crop roots. The rest is lost in canals and watercourses or during application on field. Accelerated surface erosion is reducing the life of the reservoirs on which irrigation depends. Outside the irrigated Indus Basin, water-mining and sharp declines of ground water Tables have become apparent in several areas. Since Independence, the growth of grazing livestock populations has been dramatic. Overgrazing has severely reduced the productivity of rangelands. The livestock sector is trapped in a downward spiral of too many animals chasing too little feed. The coastal strip of Pakistan is arid. Mangroves are under increasing environmental stress from reduced freshwater flows, from pollution from fuel wood and timber extraction, and from clear-felling for development. Fisheries make a small but significant contribution to Pakistan’s economy. The level of effort per unit catch has been rising with increased harvesting. Pakistan is both energy-poor and energy-profligate. Reserves of oil and gas, which are relied on heavily, are small. Domestic oil production meets less than a quarter of the country’s needs. Only a small portion of potential hydropower has been developed to date. Demonstrated and measured coal reserves have increased significantly in recent years. Only half the urban excreta is disposed of in sewers: the remainder is deposited on the roadside, into waterways, or incorporated in solid waste. It is the major source of water pollution in the country and the cause of widespread water-borne diseases. Only three major sewage treatment plants exist in the country. Much of the untreated sewage goes into irrigation systems, where the waste water is reused, and into streams and rivers. A 1985 survey of 100 hazardous chemical plants across the country showed that only three plants treated their wastes to commonly accepted standards. The contamination of shallow ground waters near urban industries is of great concern. Another pollution concern stems from the use of pesticides and fertilisers, which has grown rapidly. Motor vehicles account for a large portion of the total emission of air pollutants. Disposal of solid waste accounts for a large portion of municipal expenditure, although only about half is collected. Collected waste is dumped onto low-lying land without the benefit of sanitary landfill methods. . Resources Needed The NCS has assessed that currently 4% of national investment goes into the natural resource sectors. It suggests a doubling of investment expenditure, to reach 8% of national investment. The NCS estimates that these resources could be met almost entirely from reorienting high cost development programmes. A Rs 150 billion investment plan is outlined over a 10 year period. It is suggested that as much as US$ 40 of the financial requirement of the proposed portfolio is to come from re-focusing certain conventional programmes in resource management and conservation areas by providing more cost effective solutions. Of the remaining Rs 90 billion, 59% is targeted for the private sector. NCS Implementation An important point of departure in this work was to balance immediate pressures for demonstrable action with the need for capacity building. To address these conflicting concerns simultaneously, the Plan of Action proposed a four-component action agenda: 1. Strengthening of technical, regulatory and participatory institutions; 2. Formulating a broad-based communications campaign for mass awareness; 3. Creating a supportive framework of regulations and economic incentives; 4. Implementing projects in NCS priority areas. The Plan of Action argues that three types of institutions need to be encouraged in order to create a balanced implementation framework: technical, regulatory and planning institutions local, participatory institutions, and private sector institutions When selecting institutions to be strengthened, there is a need for a balanced approach. The institutional framework for implementation is particularly important because it defines the process of how implementation activities will be selected and how projects/actions will be prepared. The second component of the Plan of Action is a co-ordinated communication campaign for mass awareness. The change in popular consciousness through this process is a necessary precondition for a gradual but permanent change in attitudes and behaviour. A communication strategy for NCS implementation has been recently completed. A workshop, held in Islamabad in February 1993, charted the manner in which communications could be used in NCS implementation. A review of existing environmental laws has begun, and a panel has been formed to carry out the exercise. The objective is to propose new legislation. The proposed Environment Protection Act 1994, apart from performing the critical role of resolving the problems with the 1983 Ordinance, would also act as a symbol of NCS implementation. The Act would provide legislative cover to the first phase of NCS implementation, thereby reinforcing the visibility and coherence of a programme of action. Appropriate behaviour for natural resource management and conservation can be stimulated by a set of incentives, based on policy oriented practical study on the specific economic incentives that will be required to promote natural resource management and conservation. The recommendations should be sector specific and consistent. If there are any conflicts with existing incentives, these should be brought out. This would facilitate discussion of tradeoffs and viable alternatives. The fourth component is a list of projects proposed for implementation and classified into the 14 Core Programme Areas. The POA contains public sector and NGO projects, but no private sector projects. Research Design A detailed research design (reproduced at Annex 5) was finalised in consultation with Clients. Table 1. An Outline Analytical Framework to Guide Discussions     Key Outcomes Enabling Factors Natural resources maintained  Resource use efficiency increased  Industrial and urban pollution prevented  Local institutions developed  Motivation for family limitation promoted  Country’s cultural heritage preserved  Own actions             Mechanisms adopted             Enabling signals             Under this design, the six questions posed in the TORs provided by Clients were re-grouped into three themes. Theme 1 (Present): What was achieved and why? a sustainable development health check (major conservation and sustainable development improvements and their reasons) [¾ TORs] This part of the discussion sought to identify the major conservation and sustainable development improvements, and their reasons Theme 2 (Past): How was this/these achieved? Where the NGOs/private sector feel their own actions have been able to make progress in sustainable development The signals that have enabled them to do this – policies, legal changes, fiscal changes, market demands, international campaigns, sources of extra financing – and how these were linked to NCS The mechanisms that they themselves have adopted – codes of practice, international links, etc. [¾ TORs] Having established the main sustainable development improvements, the second theme explored where their own actions (including especially, mechanisms that they adopted) led to progress, and where external signals were the source of progress. Theme 3 (Future): What challenges/constraints lie ahead, and how will they be overcome? Major challenges and constraints for further improvements (external sources and within their own organisations) Recommendations for the future [¾ TORs] The Groups were facilitated to define (and rank) the top challenges and constraints (the two terms were used interchangeably) to further improvements. In addition, the moderator consulted Annex 1 to the MTR TORs (reproduced as Annex 1, Attachment 1, Appendix 1 in this Study), and Zehra (1999) for some of the questions that can be asked in this area

 

Contribution of NGOs towards NCS Implementation This chapter provides a profile of the participants at the three focus group discussions conducted with NGOs (Table 2.1), and based on a content analysis of the verbatim proceedings (at Annex 3), presents the key themes that emerge. Naturally, the selection of "key" themes is subjective and the interested reader may well read the data differently. As the data presented in Table 2.1 show, eight women and thirteen men took part in the three focus group discussions (in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar). Of these, twelve provided personal information. On average, the participants were evenly distributed by age¾ although in comparative terms, the group in Karachi had a higher share of older men while that in Peshawar, of younger women. Most participants were quite well educated; the bulk, having post-graduate degrees. In addition to formal education, over half the participants reported having taken part in at least one environment-related training course, seminar and workshop. Of the 17 participants who responded, 5 reported over 3 years of experience in working on environmental issues; 7, of 3-6 years; and 5, of less than 3 years. All reported having been associated with at least one or more environment-related projects. On average, for every three respondents, at least one reported familiarity with NCS text and goals; although the group in Lahore was unusually well informed, while that in Peshawar did not respond to this query. Theme 1 (Present): What has been Achieved and Why a sustainable development health check (major conservation and sustainable development improvements and their reasons) [¾ TORs] Focus group discussions are not the ideal method for a comprehensive "health check" of what the NGOs have achieved in NCS implementation. This is best done through a structured survey. Focus group discussions allow the Client "to get close to the customer," by viewing the sessions in person, or reviewing the verbatim transcripts (placed at Annex ). In this way, it is possible to uncover a level of detail and nuance, albeit selectively, that is unlikely to emerge from a structured survey. The discussion of major conservation and sustainable development improvements and their reasons presented below should be seen therefore as selective impressions, rather than as a comprehensive statement on the "health" of sustainable development in Pakistan. Most participants chose to discuss the achievement of their own NGOs rather than engage in an abstract discussion of conservation and sustainable development achievements in the country. Significantly, many "development" interventions (in water supply, sanitation, etc.) were viewed as "environmental" ones by the NGOs. This can be attributed both to the nascent stage of development of the NGO sector in Pakistan, and to the success of NCS in raising awareness of environment issues. At the same time, it is significant that even in our small sample a number of achievements were cited that would qualify as "environmental" interventions proper. Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) considers the provision of 350 in-house commode latrines in three villages in Peshawar, Nowshera, and Mansehra as one of its major achievements. Motivated by identified community needs, the project not only provides sanitary latrines but also safety to villagers who were subjected to criminal assault and even murder when they met their natural needs in the fields. SPO believes that the degree of success achieved in this programme is largely due to the communities’ enthusiastic participation in this project. The beneficiaries of this project provided most of the labour input. The communities’ sense of ownership enabled them to overcome the financial and resource problems that arose. The key outcome of this project is prevention of pollution. The Taraqqi Trust Balochistan (TTB) has contributed to the promotion of hygiene through provision of latrines and proper disposal of sewerage in Quetta. Like SPO’s experience, TTB assisted in the provision of 500 latrines in the underdeveloped areas of Balochistan at the demand of the community. The positive outcome of community mobilisation and interest has enabled TTB to promote environmentally hygienic conditions in the low-income areas. Human Resource Management and Development (HRMD) has installed a composting plant in Peshawar where urban waste material and garbage is being composted. This has contributed to reducing urban pollution and improving waste management. Even the livelihood of most of the scavenger children has been improved as they now collect the garbage at household level instead of in unhygienic garbage dumps. The children also get some money to pick the waste material from households. It is significant that HRMD got the technology of the composting plant from an Indian NGO committed to environmental issues. Bunyad Literacy and Community Council has adopted and introduced a home grown technology to treat saline land in the agriculture areas of Punjab and Sindh. The replacement of chemical fertilisers in the form of locally manufactured chemical free fertiliser input has helped farmers improve their yield and increase their income. The successful efforts of Bunyad have enabled farmers to earn reasonably high incomes by using low cost fertiliser inputs. Shirkatgah felt that its major achievement was the initiation of a major programme of rehabilitation and sustainable use of mangrove forests, through community participation, along the Korangi Cost. Over 300 hectares have been covered with Rhizophara, Mucronata, Avicennia Marina and Leriops Tigal, with success rates of 80-85%, 70-75% and 40-45%, respectively. Shirkatgah feels that local and community participation in mangrove planting are indicators of the project’s achievements as these activities have been conducted for the first time at the local level. The NGO has made an attempt in promoting networking among community-based organisations and the community, so as to build capacity and strengthen institutions. Finally, the Sarhad Rural Support Corporation (SRSC) has focused on redressing socio-economic imbalances, improving the quality of life, and enhancing skills and income earning capabilities of low-income or disadvantaged groups, such as women. This multi-pronged approach has enhanced living standard of the people. The improved quality of life of the people can be attributed to relentless efforts of the trained field workers of SRSC who have achieved harmony with the people of the community. Apart from regular interaction with the community it has been ensured that people’s perceptions, ideas, needs and priorities should be fully incorporated at the planning and implementation levels. Hence the sense of ownership and belonging was inculcated to achieve better and sustainable results. In sum, most NGOs expressed a high sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy. The nature of achievements cited reflected the early stage of development of the NGO sector in Pakistan. Overwhelmingly, the reason for success was attributed to community involvement. Access to appropriate technology was also cited both as a contributing factor and an effective constraint that needs to be alleviated. Theme 2 (Past): How was this Achieved Having explored the main sustainable development improvements, as a second theme, Consultants explored where the NGOs thought their own actions (including especially, mechanisms that they adopted) led to progress, and where external signals were the source of progress. 1. Where the NGOs’ Own Actions Led to Progress Where the NGOs/private sector feel their own actions have been able to make progress in sustainable development. [¾ TORs] Participant responses demonstrated a high sense of self-efficacy. Progress was attributed mainly to community support and involvement and the NGOs’ own efforts. The latter took the form of the reporting NGOs’ efforts and of support from other NGOs working in the area. In several cases, community involvement was reported as being sufficient to overcome unanticipated resource shortages. The Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) reported considerable progress in strengthening institutional capacities. It has helped in the development of sound local institutional structures, management systems, and transfer of technical know-how. Two of the Balochistan NGOs, Taraqqi Trust Balochistan and Environment Foundation Balochistan, have benefited from technical assistance and experience of OPP in the sanitation and sewerage disposed system. In this way, OPP has contributed to progress in strengthening other NGOs, and benefiting the communities they serve. It has also covered a core area of NCS, local institutional development. An interesting insight on the impact of the NCS on NGOs is provided by the example of Khwendo Kor (KK). The NGO initiated its endeavours around the broad theme of women and environment, but has refocused its direction towards social uplift of the women in Peshawar and rural areas of NWFP. The uncertainties in their initial donor driven work emerged due to different needs of the women of the community. Further there was no progress anticipated in their program until the basic demands of the women have been addressed. This inability of KK to devise effective environmental programmes for women took the shape of poverty alleviation projects like credit for micro enterprises to help women earn a livelihood. With the start of NCS, KK at its own initiative re-focused its approach to address environmental issues, like kitchen gardening, and awareness creation among women regarding environment and sustainable development. With its knowledge of local conditions and its acceptability to the community, KK was able to contribute to the promotion of natural resource management. At virtually the other end of the spectrum, World Wildlife Federation (WWF) has worked for the preservation of bio-diversity, and other environment and sustainable development goals, entirely at its own initiative. The training of professionals and other capacity building initiatives in various institutions and field project of mangrove rehabilitation in the wasted areas of Sindh and Balochistan is meant to preserve natural resources. By and large most NGOs ascribed a very large role to their own initiatives in the success of their projects. 2. Signals & their Links to NCS The signals that have enabled them to do this – policies, legal changes, fiscal changes, market demands, international campaigns, sources of extra financing – and how these were linked to NCS. [¾ TORs] The identification of ‘enabling’ and ‘push’ factors draws on the shared experiences of all participants of Focus Group Discussions. Most of the initiatives taken up by the NGOs are ongoing in various phases of implementation. These push factors can be identified under three broad categories: domestic factors, international signals, and own initiatives. The NGOs have always been engaged in fostering social sector development. Although not new to the development agenda, environmental issues commanded the attention of local NGOs, in the wake of massive international campaigns. Government policies, macroeconomic changes, and regulations or legal guidance evidently have had no role in the NGOs’ environmental initiatives. Most NGOs responded either to the community's need-based push factors, or to their association with leading international environmental NGOs. One enabling factor that participatory NGOs identified is their ability to deal with a recognised community problem. In such a case, it is difficult to ascertain the signal or push factor, as NGOs identified their own commitment to a holistic approach to development that includes environment as a key push factor. NGOs focusing on the participatory aspects of developmental work presuppose an ethically motivated and socially aware public, responsible for their initiatives in environment friendly programmes. The high degree of social partnership and independent action had led to the adoption of sustainable developmental programmes. In many cases, international campaigns started on environmental concerns appear to have had catalytic influence over the NGOs’ own initiatives. In many cases, NGOs reported re-packaging their existing programmes as being environment-related in order to reap the benefits associated with such a move. In almost all of the enabling factors the vision and direction of the initiatives may be less clear initially, given the fact that multiple perspectives need to be incorporated. It has taken more time therefore to focus on agreed priorities. 3. The Mechanisms that NGOs Adopted The mechanisms that they themselves have adopted – codes of practice, international links, etc. [¾ TORs] Although the detailed discussion on actual mechanism that these organisations have adopted was not possible because of the time constraint but participants highlighted major steps taken by them from establishment of Research and Development units which focus on environmental issues, to setting goals and priorities. They also explicitly mentioned about their own monitoring and learning processes and mode of actions that have enabled them to move successfully in the direction of sustainable development and comply with NEQS. The consensus emerged in all three FGDs that direct international linkages have been catalytic and strong stimulants for the development of mechanisms and operational methods. OPP has adopted the community participatory approach with major share of involvement of the local beneficiaries. OPP has mainly resorted to acting as facilitators leaving the people of the community to carry out the programme with their own efforts. The physical labour input is also shared by the community, as people get themselves trained in latrine construction, and construction of main sewage trunks in lanes in their settlements. OPP has extended its work to virtually every corner of the City (Karachi) with the co-ordination of Urban Resources Centre, Transparency International, and SCOPE. The Taraqqi Trust Balochistan also mobilises the communities in order to promote sanitation programme and better living conditions. NGOs basically rely on the close interaction with the people of the community. The priorities of the people are given weight and their immediate needs are taken care of accordingly. SCOPE was also to develop small delay action dam at Khar River by working in collaboration with local kissan committee. Since this project is beneficial to the farmers in the dam area, farmers were also asked to contribute to its financing. In this way, the project could be completed despite financial constraints. The Quetta Katchi Abadis Environmental Management programme by Environment Foundation Balochistan began in December 1997 and preceded with a feasibility study for almost thirty months. Twenty districts in the baseline area were identified and a massive campaign of consultation with local communities was undertaken. The needs and priorities of the people of the community were incorporated in the project plan. The sanitation lane project had 50% share (financial) of the community and in household latrines 20% share is of the beneficiaries. EPF provided technical assistance to the people for the sanitation lanes and local CBO purchased the inputs like cement, labour, etc. CBO keeps the record of all financial transactions. The process involves the concept of a Model Home (by Lyari community Development Project) in a poor locality of Lyari and a workshop was arranged to train the women of the local area in how to keep the house and locality clean and ensure hygienic environment. The process involves regular visits of field workers who organise workshops in the communities and appraise then (especially women) about the benefits of clean and healthy surroundings. LCDP has conducted workshops in the coastal villages of Karachi as well where people are residing in extremely filthy surroundings. People are being made to realise the importance of cleanliness in the light of teachings of Islam. Pakistan Environment Protection Foundation (PEPF) is presently involved in mass awareness creation programmes among the general public. It has recently organised a series of walks in different localities with different themes of environmental protection. Well-known personalities are usually requested to lead the walk so as to highlight the seriousness of the issue. The Governor of NWFP joined the walk against tire and rubber burning at Brick Kilns in the suburbs of Peshawar. This activity of rubber burning is meant to give colour to bricks that are used in building construction. Walks have also been arranged against incessant cutting of trees, and air and noise pollution by rickshaws in NWFP. As part of its efforts to provide support to communities, Sarhad Rural Support Corporation (SRSC) seeks to sensitise the people about environment, as one of its core initiatives. The need-based approach in kitchen gardening and organic forming has been adopted. Forestation and supply of potable water are the major environment friendly activities for the benefit of the rural communities. SRSC is working in seven districts covering five major components of development and welfare which are social mobilisation in natural resource management, human resource development, credit programmes for small enterprises, small productive construction, social sector development and general welfare issues. The mechanism that SRSC has adopted for awareness building is direct contact with the community. The field workers go to the people, talk to them and prepare an area profile while listing the needs of the community. A baseline survey is being conducted to handle the various aspects and dimensions of poverty alleviation actions which establishes the relevance to the environmental objectives. SRSC acts according to the immediate needs of the people in its catchment areas. The Natural Resource Management (NRM) section is striving to increase land productivity, transfer of new and improved technology, ensure food security for the rural poor especially pregnant women and children. To achieve these objectives, the NRM section of SRSC seeks to develop a cadre of village-level NRM specialist, on-farm demonstration of well-tested and proven technologies and to promote linkages between Women/Community Organisations and Government/Private NRM agencies. HRMD environmental initiatives are in the areas of sanitation and solid waste management. HRMD main focus is on children who work as scavengers. They not only waste their time in picking up the garbage, it is extremely unhealthy activity on their part to be exposed to many diseases and health problems in the midst of hazardous garbage. HRMD initiated a campaign as pilot project in which people were asked to separate the organic waste at household level and get this waste picked up by children for composting and recycling and pay some amount to the pickers. In this way children have been able to get increased income and save their time as well. Ulama and religious leaders are being motivated by the National Research Development Foundation to play their role in changing the attitudes and behaviour of the local people in favour of clean and hygienic environment. The Foundation has succeeded in obtaining their targets in various localities of NWFP with the help of Ulama who effectively convince the people about the teaching and tenets of Islam which has stressed upon keeping the environment clean as compulsory duty on the part of all the Muslims. Environmental issues are being advocated by Shirkatgah through its network across the board and the people are being mobilised for certain acts. For instance a campaign against the cutting down of trees in the vicinity of Lahore had a very positive impact. A quick survey was conducted of the area where trees were to be cut down to assess the needs and dependence of the people in that particular area on trees. WWF identifies its three segments leading to the mechanism that it has adopted for environmental initiatives. Capacity Building: WWF regularly holds training workshops for the industrial sector. Personals from industries are being appraised of the concept of environmental auditing plan, environmental laws and regulations. Training in action oriented tasks like waste management, waste minimisation, cost effective pollutants treatment technology is also imparted. The government institutions (e.g. NIPA, Staff College, Lahore) for training of various government officials have initiated training in environmental issues with WWF’s collaboration. The emerging issues at the local, national and global level regarding sustainable development are being highlighted through press, leaflets, books e.g. "Environment Guide Book" etc. The field based projects have been initiatives by WWF in the areas of slid waste management in various communities by adopting the participatory approach. It has also introduced low cost air pollution monitoring kits which are being provided to different NGOs and University students working on environmental issues. Society for the Advancement of Education has undertaken various programs in training and education of the masses in environmental issues. The NGO has developed an environmental education kit for the benefits of the trainees. Most of the trainees come from local NGOs and schoolteachers. This is the initiative that the NGO has taken on its own and has been able to run it smoothly. Theme 3 (Future): What challenges/constraints lie ahead, and how will they be overcome By and large, lack of funds, of moral support from government, and of timely provision of technical assistance from donors (and intermediating NGOs) were identified as the key constraints to past progress. This experience was projected to the future in the identification of constraints and solutions. There was little evidence in the discussions of an independent assessment of factors in the future that were at variance with past experience. 1. Major Challenges and Constraints Major challenges and constraints for further improvements (external sources and within their own organisations). [¾ TORs] Many NGOs expressed grave reservations and apprehensions about practising sustainable development in a manner consistent with their own objectives. They felt that the primary requirements of the communities are often quite different from the requirements of sustainable development as understood by donors. They reported facing many difficulties and uncertainties in acquiring financial resources for project implementation. Some participants suggested that genuine sustainable development can never be achieved, given the seeming intractability of the problems involved, and the many contradictions and conflicts at the government level. The government was unanimously singled out as a very passive partner, affecting the climate for change. The government’s lack of commitment, reflected in its attitude, was identified as the biggest challenge to furthering the cause of sustainable development. High-level political support, which is seen as not having come forth, is said to be crucial for success in what the NGOs see as a crusade against environmental degradation. Some NGOs consider the dearth of information, data on environmental indicators, and of skilled, trained and technical personnel as major constraints to undertaking any project. Besides these specific factors, the general current social and economic situation of the country, with declining growth, different priorities of stakeholders, the fallout effects of Afghan refugees (and lack of government policy to tackle refugee problems) were all challenges identified by NGOs as hurdles in their work. Surprisingly, constraints within the NGOs’ own organisations, were not reported by any participant. All the impeding factors are attributed to external sources, in which lack of facilitation and financial support by the government were cited most frequently. One NGO departing from the popular perception of the indispensable role of donors in execution of programmes and projects, put the responsibility of unsuccessful efforts in sustainable development on the involvement of big donors.   2. Recommendations for the Future Recommendations for the future. [¾ TORs] Surprisingly, a participant from one of the most well-known NGOs, popular with donors, felt that dependence on loans and donors’ money should be minimised. While not going so far, many NGOs reported that "donor-driven" programmes force a Faustian compact upon the NGOs in their efforts to provide for the needs and priorities of the people. Bunyad feels that efforts should be made to replicate this achievement in other areas where soil fertility has declined because of salinity and use of chemical fertilisers. Nature Resource Centre of University of Agriculture Faisalabad has co-operated with Bunyad in the provision of this local technology for the benefit of the farmers. Hence Bunyad has been able to successfully implant the environment friendly technology for improved results because of the total support and co-operation of Nature Research Centre. Some of the recommendations that were advanced were: There should be an increase in public hearing, and lessening of space between politicians, planners and public. There should be a level playing field; information should not be kept secret by public agencies. There is a need to have a more consultative approach at the community level to tackle the implementation problems so people will own the project. Village conservation strategies, based on direct consultation with village people to identify their specific needs and priorities, should also be formulated. For the sustainability of the programmes and initiatives, the community must be consulted to create sense of ownership in the community. If the NCS message has to be made popular, then it should be translated in easy and local language. Resource organisations, like IUCN, have not been able to disseminate information on various environmental issues to grassroots NGOs. The timely provision of information, essential to the proper design of their programmes and to better results, is a priority need of all local NGOs and CBOs. In-depth research should be done on each core environmental issue, and the impact of progress in each area on the economy should be publicised. Environmental issues must be covered by the media (paper and electronic) in Urdu and in regional languages, for the benefit of the masses. Implementation of NCS has to be done in letter and spirit. The commitment to environmental issues and sustainable development should be the part of the oath taking of the legislators and policy makers. Mass composting of the green waste should be the responsibility of municipal corporations. Afghan refugees were identified as one of the factors which has exacerbated environmental pollution and degradation. Their "negative" cultural impact was also mentioned. Government must have a policy for these refugees and restrain them from the adverse activities. A national network of all NGOs working for sustainable development was said to be "imperative." Isolated efforts and projects are insufficient to achieve sustainable development. Collaborative and co-ordinated actions are required to achieve concrete outcomes. There is a need for a national institution to provide NGOs with information about innovative approaches and technologies, and training on sustainable development. The government must also play an active role in facilitation and implementation of NGOs’ programmes and projects. The capacity building and strengthening of CBOs is essential. CBOs work in communities, with high degree of commitment. Hence they must be empowered to run the environment protection projects efficiently.