ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: Pakistan and Italy on Tuesday agreed to a pro-active collaboration in forestry, medicinal plants and mountain areas conservancy.

The willingness in this regard was expressed during a meeting between the Italian Minister for Agriculture and Forestry Policies, Alemanno Glovanni and State Minister for Environment Tahir Iqbal.

The visiting official agreed in principle that Italy would provide financial and technical assistance to the ministry of environment for the development of Karakoram national park and national data base on medicinal plants of northern areas.

During the meeting, the Italian minister also expressed his desire to have continuous and extended collaboration with the ministry of environment, Pakistan, in areas of forestry, biodiversity, mountain area conservancy etc.

It was decided that initially Karakoram national park would be developed as a pilot project with an amount of 1.3 million Euro. In due course of time, the Italian government would also assist the local communities in northern areas under various projects of mountain resource management and preserving the national flora and fauna.

In this regard, a national data base of the rich variety of medicinal plants available in northern areas would be established that will help in introducing these plants to the world and initiating income generating projects for the local community.

Tahir Iqbal appreciated the friendly gesture of the Italian minister and his delegation. He said Pakistan needed Italian collaboration for the capacity enhancement of forestry and mountain area conservancy departments, as the treasures of forests and highest mountains in the northern areas should be preserved and conserved in an environment-friendly and sustainable manner.

He added that assistance in training activities through building linkages with Italian universities would also be appreciated. The minister said that they would also like to benefit from the technical expertise available in Italy in the fields of marble quarrying and finishing as in Pakistan it was done in a way which was polluting the environment of mountain areas.

Both sides also agreed to work on long-term projects for the preservation of national resources of northern areas and welfare of the communities.