Youth urged to lead Clean Green Pakistan drive

ISLAMABAD, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Shehryar Khan Afridi Thursday urged youth to become flag bearers of Clean Green Pakistan drive.

Addressing the students and youth at the Clean Green Pakistan movement launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan by Air University here at Pir Sohawa, Shehryar Afridi urged youth to actively participate in the drive.

He planted a sapling to kick off the Tree Plantation Drive at Margalla hills which was attended by a large number of university students, faculty staff and management team members.

Chairman Kashmir Committee Shahryar Khan Afridi, Director General Environment Irfan Ahmed Niazi, Assistant Commissioners Awaid Bhatti and Rana Musa, and Vice Chancellor Air University Air Marshal Javed Ahmed (R) along with other dignitaries were also present to support the campaign.

Afridi, while interacting with volunteers, expressed that tree plantation is an ongoing charity and every person must play his/her due role to ensure the clean & green Pakistan for the betterment of our next generation. According to him, youth is the real force to move the country towards peace and prosperity.

Under the AU Plantation Drive 2021, more than 10,000 seed balls were thrown near Talhar village at Margalla hills. The volunteers also brought various saplings including Sukhchain, Kachinar, Cheer, Wyeeping Willow and Amrood. That was in addition to 2000 plants being planted by students, staff & faculty at various locations in Islamabad.

It is worth mentioning that Air University has also planted 35,000 trees this month in its campuses, including Kamra, Multan and South campus. Earlier, the volunteers of Air University Shaoor Society, with the collaboration of civil society and industry partners, had also achieved a target of collecting 17,000 seeds from waste in addition to organizing plantation drives for school children in the twin cities.

Adviser to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Friday said that Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf-led government was keenly focusing on all environment-friendly projects as we want to be a contributor in a solution of global issues.

The government was committed to controlling the impacts of climate change and leaving a better Pakistan for the next generations, he said while speaking to Radio Pakistan’s Current Affair Program.

The construction of new dams and reservoirs is vital to meet the impending challenges of water shortage and power generation in Pakistan, he stressed.

Unfortunately, we have not invested in the construction of new dams after the 1960s, he said, adding, water is not only used in the agriculture sector but also in hydro-power projects.

Minister further said that the incumbent government is totally focusing on zero-carbon power generation.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced to construct of ten new dams in the next decade, he added.

The construction of new dams had not been a political priority over the last two decades, he regrets.

Amin Aslam added that every country in the world is experiencing hot weather due to global warming where Pakistan is among the ten most affected countries in the world due to climate change.