TAXILA: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Sunday criticised former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and accused him of defaming the military and creating political instability through dirty politics.

Mr Aslam was speaking at the inauguration of a water filtration plant and a new link road in Nartopa, Attock.

He claimed that PML-N members were perturbed by the current situation and that they were losing popularity.

Mr Aslam also claimed that Sharif’s statements towards the military “appease India”.

“Nawaz Sharif is towing India’s narrative,” he claimed, adding that the PML-N leadership’s present political stance was “fake” and based on double standards that were not in the interest of democracy or state institutions.

He also said Sharif’s address at the All Parties Conference was nothing new.

Mr Aslam said that two national parks, part of the government’s Protective Area Initiative, are ready and will be inaugurated by the prime minister in Gilgit-Baltistan soon.

He said the parks will be monitored by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

This is the first time Pakistan has prepared national parks spread over vast acres of land, he said, adding that the initiative includes revamping parks in Balochistan and Sindh.

Mr Aslam said Pakistan is playing a leading role in the world in terms of solutions against the impact of climate change. The country will turn 60pc of its energy generation from old thermal technology to alternative green technology such as wind, solar or hydel power by 2025.

A total of 45 water filtration plants are being installed in Attock, Hazro and Hassanabdal at a cost of more than Rs60 million to provide clean drinking water and control waterborne diseases, he said.

Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2020