ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday launched the countrywide monsoon tree plantation drive by planting a sapling at a ceremony.

Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister said he had directed the relevant departments and institutions to plant at least 100 million saplings across the country, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, to save the country from the impacts of climate change that badly hit Pakistan in 2022.

The prime minister was referring to the floods caused by climate change that had inflicted an estimated loss of $3 billion on the country, caused over 1,700 deaths and displaced eight million people.

In August 2022, the government had declared a state of emergency because of the worst floods in the country’s history.

Mr Sharif expressed the hope that tree plantation would also help reduce air pollution.

According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the prime minister directed the relevant authorities in the federal and provincial governments to play their role in spreading the plantation drive to every corner to make Pakistan a green and pollution-free country.

He also asked all citizens to help the government by fully participating in the drive to save the country from climate change disasters and provide a healthy environment.

On the occasion, the prime minister was also briefed about the area-wise plantation targets.

Recently, presiding over a meeting regarding climate change, the prime minister had stated that Pakistan was among the countries that had least role in climate destruction but was the most affected by climate change. He said a comprehensive and effective strategy was needed to tackle the effects of climate change as it affected agriculture, energy, water, infrastructure and other sectors.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2024