LAHORE: The School Education Department (SED), south Punjab, is the first region in Pakistan where a book on the adverse effects of climate change is being taught in schools.

SED secretary Dr Ehtasham Anwar told a ceremony held in honour of officers and teachers of the educational institutions who played their role in teaching of “Green Book” and in the campaign for growing Mewaki forest.

Organised at the Multan Arts Council on Friday, the ceremony was also attended by in-charge and trainers of 257 schools of south Punjab, additional secretaries, deputy secretaries and all CEOs, DEOs and deputy DEOs of South Punjab Education Department.

The book about climate change is being taught in 7th grade in schools for the last two years. “Due to the initiative of the SED, Pakistan has got recognition all over the world.”

He said the British minister of education had contacted the SED through a zoom meeting to get information about the book curriculum and contents while the United Nations had praised the initiative. he said the SED had established Mewaki forest in 257 schools of the region to combat effects of climate change.

Dr Anwer said that nations grew in the mother’s lap and in schools and the teaching of Green Book was started from class seven with the aim of making the new generation aware of the adverse effects of climate change. He said the rains and floods had caused a loss of Rs 30 billion dollars to the country.

Dr Anwer said the book was based on stories about climate change and its second edition had also been launched after the recent floods.

He said the natural forest grew in 100 years while the Miwaki forest grew in 10 years. “The Miwaki forest is 30 times denser than the natural forest.”

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2022