In a rare instance of policy continuity between rival political administrations, the Shehbaz Sharif-led federal government has decided to continue one of the PTI-era flagship environmental projects—the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Program—renaming it the Upscaling of Green Pakistan Program for the upcoming fiscal year 2025–26.
According to official budget documents, the government has proposed a Rs 2.25 billion allocation for the initiative in the next financial year, signaling a commitment to addressing climate change and environmental degradation through sustained afforestation efforts.
Originally approved by ECNEC in August 2019 during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the tree plantation project aimed to restore forest cover and mitigate the impacts of global warming across the country. Despite the rebranding, the core objectives of the project remain unchanged.
By June 30, 2025, the project’s cumulative expenditure is expected to reach Rs 32.81 billion, out of a total projected cost of Rs 81.83 billion. For the ongoing fiscal year, the government had earmarked Rs 5 billion to support the program’s operations.
The continuation of the initiative reflects growing political consensus around the urgent need for environmental action, irrespective of party lines.
