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A delegation of COE-CPEC headed by Dr. Shahid Rashid (Executive Director) along with Dr. Saleem Janjua (Head of Policy Division) and Mr. Adnan Khan (Research Associate) met with Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema (Country Representative, IUCN-Pakistan) and Ms. Fauzia Bilqis Malik (Manager, IUCN-Islamabad) on August, 27th 2018. The purpose of the visit was to revive the cordial relations with IUCN and devise areas of mutual interest that may be worked on by the two organizations.
Dr. Shahid Rashid shared about various activities and achievements of CoE-CPEC. To cater the research needs for CPEC, Centre has initiated CPEC Quarterly magazine, working paper series, policy paper series and case study series. He emphasized that purposeful research may be conducted by the two organizations on environment and climate related topics like Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) of CPEC and turning CPEC into a green biological corridor.
Mr. Cheema also emphasized on mainstreaming environment in CPEC. He shared that Regional Director IUCN Asia, Ms. Aban Market Kabraji is serving as Advisor on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). He acknowledged the idea of SEA for CPEC and mentioned that IUCN has conducted two pilot projects of SEA in AJK and Gilgit City. The assessment of the biological corridor from Khunjerab to Gwadar is also of high requirement. He also appreciated the sitting government initiatives on environment.
Dr. Saleem Janjua proposed that a case study of Thar and Gwadar with “eco-civilization perspective” may be conducted. He further added that the study of first marine protected area of Astola near Gwadar with expertise of Chinese is also an opportunity to be explored. IUCN and COE-CPEC can jointly play an important role in this regard.
The meeting concluded on the note that it is imperative to mainstream environment into the CPEC portfolio. The two organizations will work together on the above-mentioned topics, especially carrying out the evidence based research and collaborative events. Moreover, a Letter of Agreement (LOA) will be signed between the COE-CPEC and IUCN for collaborative partnership. The joint working of the two organizations is vital to harmonize environment and CPEC.
