ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday urged citizens to plant at least five trees per family and join the government’s efforts in securing a protected environment for future generations.
Addressing the launch of a nationwide Spring Tree Plantation campaign on the occasion of World Scout Day, the prime minister said owing to Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, massive forestation was crucial to saving the country.
The tree plantation event coincided with World Scouts Day as the government decided to register youth to carry out plantation at a wider scale. Around 750,000 scouts of Pakistan Boy Scouts Association will join the drive to achieve the target of planting 540 million trees this season.
The prime minister said Scouts Day was picked for launching the plantation campaign to encourage youth to take responsibility in protecting their environment. He said a highly climate-vulnerable Pakistan could not cope with climate risks, particularly floods, desertification and heatwaves which had become increasingly frequent due to global warming and reduced tree cover.
He said Pakistan was blessed with immense natural resources, adding that it was the responsibility of every citizen to contribute towards protecting the environment through planting trees. He said planting at least five trees per family would go a long way in making Pakistan clean and green.
He mentioned that Ten Billion Tree project acclaimed international recognition, including by the World Economic Forum and the British prime minister who acknowledged Pakistan as a leader in combating climate change. “Our future is linked with a green Pakistan and we all need to join hands in achieving this goal,” he said.
PM Imran Khan said Pakistan’s twelve unique climatic zones provided a favourable ground for tree plantation of all species. He mentioned that the current season would witness the target accomplishment of planting 540 million trees.
The Prime Minister said unfortunately, Pakistan is among the ten countries, which are most vulnerable to climate change. He said Pakistan’s policy of combating climate change effects has been widely acknowledged in the world.
Earlier, addressing the ceremony, Special Assistant on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said over 1.4 billion trees have so far been planted under the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme and hoped the target will be completed. He said Pakistan’s successful model of addressing the climate change challenges has been appreciated in the world and various countries have expressed interest to replicate it.
Earlier, the prime minister planted a sapling to mark the launch of Spring Tree Plantation campaign. Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood and a large number of scouts attended the event.
