‘Islamabad to be made plastic free soon’

Islamabad: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Wednesday said the Plant for Islamabad campaign was the final step of Clean and Green Pakistan (CGP) programme as various plantation days had been celebrated across the country where the provinces took leadership role in planting the maximum number of trees.

He was speaking at the occasion of plantation day ceremony organised at the Zoological Survey of Pakistan's (ZSP) botanical garden land with the collaboration of the Islamabad Dental and Medical College.

He said the Oxford University in research had found that plantation was one of the cheapest and effective sources of mitigating climate change impacts. "The world is following Billion Tree Tsunami afforestation programme as an American non-governmental organization has rated Billion Tree Tsunami at number two around the globe among the top 5 best measures to address climate change issue," he added.

The adviser said the youth in the country had owned the Prime Minister's CGP programme as their own which had made this drive a successful and encouraging initiative as Prime Minister Imran himself was leading this campaign as his own.

"Around 10,000 saplings will be planted at 6 acres land of ZSP Botanical Garden whereas on this day 2,000 saplings will be planted. We have taken the hard task of 10 Billion Tree Tsunami which will be accomplished with public support.

"We have to make our environment not only green rather clean and healthy. The youth should help avoid littering and educate others to abstain from such practice. Climate Change will be the biggest future challenge for the government and we have to prepare for it," he said.

Amin said Pakistan had borne losses of worth $ 4 billion in terms of due adverse climate change effects in the region and was also reckoned among the top 10 most vulnerable countries due to climate change.

"We have to free our country from the menace of plastic as it has clogged every part of the country and creating seriouspollution. We are going to make the federal capital 'plastic free' as Kenya and many other countries have successfully overcome this issue. Kenya has done it in 6 months and I have managed to bring their entire plan and will implement it here," he said.

State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul said that nations were formed upon ideology where we had faced splitting up of our ideology after the creation of the country into religious, racial, ethnic and provincial beliefs.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan has given a vision to the youth in particular and the nation in general. Plant for Islamabad is for Pakistan and our future generations under CGP programme which is the dream of Prime Minister Imran Khan," she said.

"CGP is Prime Minister Imran Khan's behavioural movement to keep ourselves clean and strengthen our faith as cleanliness is half of the faith. Our religion teaches us that if you plant one sapling you will be rewarded with heaven. It is a dedication day to our country and the federal capital," Zartaj said.

"The Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) had performed unprecedentedly well and all us including the Adviser, Parliamentary Secretary Rukhsana Naveed, Secretary, and every other official will leave no front vacant to address climate change issues and environmental conservation issues," she said.

Zartaj added that Pakistani youth according to global bodies was the second youngest and one of the most intelligent in the world which was a matter of proud for us and would also help them in making the country clean, green and healthy.