Billion Tree Tsunami drive a success to protect the country from adverse impact of climate change: PM

Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the youth to play their due role in making the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami drive a success to protect the country from adverse impact of the climate change.

Addressing the launching ceremony of Spring Tree Plantation Campaign at Ghazi Barotha on Friday, he said trees are vital to preserve the future of coming generations as Pakistan is amongst the ten most affected countries of the world by the negative impact of the climate change. He asked the youth to protect trees and the government will provide them sports grounds.

Imran Khan said 70 percent of Lahore’s tree cover was eroded and the previous regimes paid no heed to that regard. He said we have to plant more trees to reverse the adverse impact of climate change.

Responding to some demands raised by Malik Amin Aslam, the special assistant on climate change, for the area, Imran Khan announced setting up of Special Technology zone at Kamra. He said the entire Punjab, including Attock district, will be provided with universal health coverage under Insaf Health Card by the end of this year. The Prime Minister said it has been government’s policy to give priority to local people for jobs in projects established in an area.

Speaking on the occasion, Malik Amin Aslam said that one million trees will be planted along banks of the Ghazi Canal in next three years. He said the government is also working on constructing ten cricket grounds in the area.

The SAPM thanked the prime minister for approving provision of gas to 35 villages of the area from where natural gas is being extracted as priority right. He said a regional campus of Allama Iqbal Open University and a mother-child hospital are also being established in Attock to facilitate people of the area.

On the other hand, National Assembly began its session at the parliament house in Islamabad today with Speaker Asad Qaiser in the chair. The House offered fateha for the departed souls of Senator Mushahidullah Khan, legendary mountaineer Ali Sadpara and the security personnel martyred in recent acts of terrorism. Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan has said the government is pursuing pro-business policies and these are being appreciated by the business community.

Responding to the points of opposition members in the National Assembly today, regarding the state of economy and price hike, he said the large scale manufacturing is now witnessing growth of 14.50 percent.

The Minister for Power said the previous government set up expensive power plants, ignoring the indigenous sources of energy.  He said the present government is focusing to exploit the potential of renewable energy to produce cheap electricity. He said the agreement signed with the IPPs will help save 800 billion rupees.  He said the government is clearing the mess left by the previous regimes.

Participating in the discussion on a motion regarding inflation, especially increase in the prices of essential food items as well as petroleum products, gas and electricity, Qaiser Sheikh of PML (N) said the devaluation of currency has led to increase in the prices of essential commodities including petroleum products. He said indirect taxes such as petroleum levy are affecting the poor segments of the society. He asked the government to promote the small and medium enterprises as per its commitment.

Raja Pervaiz Ashraf of PPP said no action has been taken by the government to check the prices of essential items. He said increase in the prices of wheat, sugar and cotton has not benefitted the farmers but the middlemen and hoarders.

Earlier, the annual reports of State Bank of Pakistan on the state of Pakistan’s economy for the years 2019-20 and 2020-21 were presented before the National Assembly today.