KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari has called for enhancing the national forest coverage by planting more trees to help mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change and global warming.

He said this while planting a neem sapling here at Bilawal House to mark the National Tree Plantation Day in Pakistan on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, he urged the youth and civil society to help increase forest cover and planting more trees as Pakistan was one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change and global warming.

He said neem was an environment friendly tree, offering numerous environmental benefits, such as clean air, cool shade, and acting as a natural mosquito repellent.

He said that the need to plant trees had become of paramount importance in view of the rising temperatures in Pakistan.

President Zardari urged the nation to actively participate in the monsoon tree plantation campaign and plant as many trees as possible in their neighbourhoods and surroundings for a better environment.

He said that the campaign was a great opportunity to enhance forest cover, increase greenery in Pakistan, and make the environment healthy and clean.

He remarked that enhancing forests and greenery would make our environment healthier and safer for our future generations.

He said that Pakistan had undertaken successful mangrove restoration, under which mangroves on millions of acres of land had been planted in Sindh. “We are working to further enhance mangroves cover and plant more trees.”

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2024