TAXILA: Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said the initiative of 10 billion tree tsunami programme would help reduce climate change issues.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of plantation at an environmental park in Ghorghushti village of Hazro in Attock on Tuesday evening.

Federal Minister for Power Omer Ayub Khan and Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda were also present.

Mr Aslam said one million saplings would be planted on 16,000 kanals owned by Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) on the bank of the 52-km-long Ghazi Barotha water channel in Attock in the next four years.

He said the federal government had so far released Rs1.25 billion for the plantation of 3.29 billion saplings across the country.

He said he had signed a memorandum of understanding with the ministry of water to hold plantation along dams to enhance the green cover of the area.

He said the environmental park would be renovated to provide healthy entertainment to the people of the area.

More than 30 water filtration plants will also be installed in Hazro to provide the residents clean drinking water while efforts are being made to set up an industrial zone in the area.

He said gas and electricity were also being ensured to different areas while Insaf health cards would be given to 0.2 million inhabitants of the Attock district.

He said a housing scheme had been introduced to provide shelter to the poor and underprivileged people. “Land for the project has been allocated in Attock and the construction work will get underway soon,” he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the minister for power said during the last eight months the PTI government had succeeded to minimise the electricity theft worth Rs84 billion and increased the revenue to Rs121 billion.

He said to overcome shortage of electricity solar panels would also be installed across the country.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2019