Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched a nationwide monsoon tree plantation drive on Wednesday by planting a sapling at a ceremony. He announced that he had instructed relevant departments to plant at least 100 million saplings across Pakistan, including in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, to mitigate the effects of climate change, which severely impacted the country in 2022.
The prime minister referred to the devastating floods caused by climate change that resulted in over 1,700 deaths, displaced eight million people, and inflicted an estimated $3 billion in losses. In August 2022, the government declared a state of emergency due to the catastrophic floods.
Mr. Sharif expressed hope that the tree plantation drive would help reduce air pollution. He urged federal and provincial authorities to extend the drive nationwide to make Pakistan greener and pollution-free. He also called on citizens to actively participate in the initiative to protect the country from climate change and ensure a healthier environment.
During the event, the prime minister was briefed on area-specific plantation targets. He recently emphasized in a meeting on climate change that, although Pakistan contributes minimally to global climate change, it is among the most affected countries. He stressed the need for a comprehensive and effective strategy to address climate change’s impact on agriculture, energy, water, infrastructure, and other sectors.
Source: https://propakistani.pk/2024/08/08/govt-to-plant-100-million-trees-across-pakistan/
