Plantation only way to reverse environmental damage: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Monday that Pakistan was facing the impending challenge of climate change and massive plantation was the solution to reverse the negative impacts of environmental degradation.

Speaking at the launch of nationwide monsoon tree plantation drive at Fatima Jinnah Park here, Khan said deforestation had resulted in increased levels of air pollution and temperatures in the country, which required a special focus on planting trees.

The Prime Minister said plantation under the Ten Billion Tree Programme would help the country gain its required forest cover, which was unfortunately quite less compared with other countries in the region.

He said ruthless tree-cutting during the previous governments had led to rising

pollution in big cities, and emphasised that trees were the natural remedy to absorb the airborne pollutants.

Sharing his vision to make every city of Pakistan green, Khan asked the local administrations, including commissioners and deputy commissioners, to ensure proper implementation of plantation drive and also preserve the green covers.

He mentioned that the world was acknowledging Pakistan’s role in leading the efforts against climate change, particularly meeting the Bonn Challenge of planting trees.

The Prime Minister planted a sapling of Avocado (Persea Americana) fruit tree to kick off the plantation campaign. The event was attended by Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Planning Minister Asad Umer, State Minister for Climate Change Zartaj Gul, PM’s Special Assistant on Health Dr Faisal Sultan and Senator Faisal Javed.A large number of volunteers were present to plant saplings in the premises of the park. The nationwide activity is taking place in the rainy season of monsoon as part of the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami under the auspices of the Ministry of Climate Change and the Capital Development Authority (CDA). In the next few weeks, the CDA will plant nearly half a million trees across Islamabad.

A couple of days ago, Prime Minister Khan had planted a sapling in Nathia Gali’s scenic resort to promote plantation for the sake of preserving the natural environment. He also urged the nation, especially youth to join hands in gearing up for the plantation campaign.