Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Thursday lauded China and Korea for their participation in Pakistan’s historically largest afforestation program.
While addressing a launching ceremony of the Pakistan-Korea Friendship Forest Initiative (Phase-II) held at the Korean Embassy in Islamabad on Thursday, Aslam said the present Pakistan government is dedicated to working with the global community to deal with the adverse effects of global warming on lives and livelihoods of the people around the globe.
Malik Amin and the Korean Ambassador to Pakistan Suh Sangpyo pledged to collaborate on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s green initiatives, especially the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Program (TBTTP) for to enhance Pakistan’s climate resilience.
Suh Sangpyo told the participants of the event that under the second phase of the Pak-Korea forest initiative, around 10,000 plants of various fruit and non-fruit species would be planted in different parts of Pakistan to help enhance the environment and reinforce the livelihoods of the local communities.
The Korean government has already planted around 6,000 saplings of different species in Pakistan to support Imran Khan’s tree plantation program, said the Korean Ambassador.
“The Korean government looks at the largest afforestation program of the Pakistani government as an opportunity to help improve the country’s overall environmental conditions and enhance resilience against unfolding deleterious impacts of climate change on various socioeconomic sectors,” the Korean Ambassador told Malik Amin Aslam in a meeting on the sidelines of the event.
Later, Aslam and the Korean Ambassador kick-started the plantation by planting a pine tree sapling at the Embassy of Korea.
China gifts Pakistan 7,000 saplings for plantation
Earlier on Wednesday, Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong gifted 7,000 saplings for plantation along the national highways and motorways of Pakistan to help the country combat air pollution and environmental degradation.
The saplings were handed over to Pakistan at a ceremony held here at the Chinese embassy to mark 70 years of Pak-China friendship.
While addressing the ceremony, Nong Rong said that the Chinese government strongly supports the Clean Green Pakistan initiative of PM Imran Khan.