President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have called for collective response to climate change through advancement of Green Pakistan Programme. In their separate messages on launching of nationwide Monsoon Tree Plantation Drive on Monday, they said more than 41 million saplings will be planted across the country during the campaign. 

The President said at this critical time, when climate change has already brought destruction to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other parts of the country through floods and cloudbursts, we must act decisively to plant more and more trees. He said the Green Pakistan Programme is a national initiative to expand forest cover, rehabilitate degraded lands, restore the balance of nature, and promote nature-based solutions. 

The President said the well-being and progress of any nation are grounded in the preservation of its forests and natural environment. The Prime Minister, in his message, said the government is committed to tree plantation campaign by utilizing all available means and natural solutions in order to increase the proportion of forests and soil fertility under its Green Pakistan Programme.

He urged the people to develop a sense of responsibility to fulfill this important national, environmental and climate duty.The Prime Minister said the tree plantation, with its positive impact on human life, plays a key role in the conservation and growth of country’s invaluable natural resources, flora and fauna.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)