F.P. Report
Islamabad: Federal Minister for Climate Change attended the plantation ceremony as chief guest at Trail 3 Islamabad under Green Pakistan Program on its first anniversary. He planted a new tree and cut an align specie “Pakistan is included among countries having very less forest cover. Total 5.01 % of total area of Pakistan is covered with forest cover”, Federal Minister for Climate Change.
He further said present forest cover has many dangers that include climate change, droughts, floods, deforestation .To deal with this situation Prime Minister of Pakistan initiated Green Pakistan program that was inaugurated on 9th February 2017 He also highlighted that main purpose of Green Pakistan Program is to environmental protection and revival of forestry. Through this program, protection of biodivrsity and to grow new forests. Ministry of Climate Change of initiated Green Pakistan Program as a challenge to save our forests.
The total cost of this program is 4.7 billion, which will be completed in five years. In next 5 years, 100 millions plants will be grown along roads, canals, increasing mangroves, revival of Guzara forests etc. He also told the participants that in last one-year 18millions plants have been grown under green Pakistan Program. He further highlighted that we have initiated Ghar Ghar Aik Shajar Awareness Campaign under which volunteer students from different universities going door to door in 10,000 homes in Islamabad and spreading awareness messages and distributing plants.
He also highlighted that fighting against climate change is biggest Jihad. The development process of big nations affected countries like Pakistan. He also highlighted that War on Terror was not our war but we are most affected by it. Similarly we paid more price due to development of big powers.
The President of Wildlife Management Board Dr.Anees also requested Minister for Climate Change to help in getting financial support for a forest guard who was killed in Margala few days back which Minister for Climate Change replied that we have already written to support in this matter.
The event was attended by Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change MNA Ms.Romeena Khursheed Alam , Secretary Ministry of Climate Change Mr.Khizer Hayat, officers of Green Pakistan Program and Forest Department, guards of wildlife Management Board and media persons.