Afforestation is one of the best buffers in terms of negative
impacts of climate change in the world. Prime Minister, Imran Khan, appeals to
all Pakistanis, especially school children that everyone should plant two trees
on 18th August to celebrate "Plant4Pakistan day" across Pakistan. more than 22
million plants will be planted across Pakistan today.
According to the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) 2017 survey, only 5.7% of
Pakistan’s land was covered by forest. The report added that Pakistan lost up to
43,000 hectares of forest every year from 2000 to 2010. This is the highest
deforestation rate among Asian countries. The federal government has estimated a
one per cent increase in forest area in the country from the Billion Tree
Tsunami
The forestation project would require a funding of Rs. 125 billion for the first
phase and will provide green cover to around 0.8 million hectares of land.
As per the proposal, around 4.5 billion saplings will be planted in the country
during the first phase. The remaining target of 5.5 billion would be met in the
second phase – which will be completed through a public-private partnership.
The forest department of every province, after an extensive search, has chosen
different samples of trees for plantation, keeping environmental and ecological
impacts in view. The sample cost varies accordingly.
Here are the details of the seedlings/saplings in each province and the
estimated cost:
Balochistan: 0.25 billion saplings at Rs. 64 per sapling.
Punjab: 0.53 billion saplings at Rs. 58 per sapling.
Gilgit-Baltistan: 0.17 billion at the cost of Rs. 41 per sapling.
Azad Kashmir: 0.70 billion saplings at Rs. 29 per seedling.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: One billion saplings at Rs. 27 per sapling.
Sindh: 2 billion saplings at the cost of Rs. 5 per seedling.
Moreover, the National Highway Authority (NHA) would also plant 1.4 million
plants at a cost of Rs. 1,675 per plant.
Environment saving agenda of Pakistan ; "Clean and Green Pakistan Index"
project, include 10 billion tree project, ban on use of polythene bags in
Islamabad, electric vehicles policy, rules and regulations about green
buildings. Today 3.25 billion trees will be planted in Capital city;Islamabad,
the first phase of the project, which will be reviewed after two years.
Under the Clean and Green Pakistan Index project with the participation of the
federal, provincial and local governments, cities and the surrounding areas will
be graded in respect of provision and drainage of water, solid waste management,
cleanliness, and ratio of trees.
In the first phase, Clean and Green Index project will be initiated in twelve
cities of Punjab and seven cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwan.
Pakistan already on right path for climatic saving and pollution reduction, in
process of doing so ban on the use of polythene bags is already implemented from
14th August of this year in the federal capital at initial level, and the
decision is being appreciated by all segments of the society. plastic ban will
be implemented next in Karachi, the metropolitan city of Pakistan till October,
2019. Traffic pollution is another issue especially in a big and highly
populated city like Karachi, Federal government is launching green
transportation project in Karachi and Green Carbon Fund has given 50 million US
dollar in this regard.