ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday directed provincial governments to take maximum advantage of the current monsoon rains and double their efforts to protect environment and ensure “greener Pakistan” by adopting latest tree plantation and plants protection techniques.

“The measures taken by the government for environment protection are being recognised at international level,” said Mr Khan while presiding over a meeting on environment and monsoon tree plantation drive.

The prime minister said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province through the Billion Tree Tsunami had set an example for others to follow.

He directed the provincial government to ensure early finalization of the divisional and districts level plantation plan in Punjab. He also directed the administration to encourage students, Tiger Force volunteers, civil society as well as public and private institutions to participate in the tree plantation campaign.

Imran to share his thoughts on climate change, economic challenges at UN forum today

According to the PM office, the prime minister will deliver a keynote address on Tuesday at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, spelling out his vision for meeting economic challenges posed by Covid-19 and climate change.

Punjab’s development

While chairing a meeting via video link after his visit to Lahore was postponed due to bad weather, the PM directed the Punjab government to pay attention to district development and introduce a third-party monitoring system to ensure timely completion of uplift works.

He also asked the provincial government to establish playgrounds at district level to provide healthy environment to the youth and focus on universal health care in the province.

While presiding over a separate meeting, the premier described shrines and mausoleums across the country as heritage and said their rehabilitation and preservation was essential for the promotion of religious tourism.

Mr Khan called for the formation of a comprehensive plan for proper use of state lands around mausoleums so that those lands could be utilised for establishing hospitals and educational institutions.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2021