Climate change is a threat to our future, says PM Imran as he inaugurates plantation drive

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday once again reiterated the importance of planting trees, adding that climate change is a threat to our future.

The prime minister made these remarks while addressing the inauguration ceremony of a tree plantation drive in Mianwali. 

The "Revival of Kundian Plantation under 10 Billion Tree Tsunami" is aimed at restoring forests and controlling wilderness, a statement issued by the PM Office read.

“I want all the schools across Pakistan to teach the importance of tree planting. Our youth still does not have any awareness about the importance of tree plantation,” the prime minister said.

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“The forests that the English left behind have completely been destroyed today. There were forests on 20,000 acres of land in Kundian. Today while coming here via the helicopter I could not see any trees in the forests,” the prime minister lamented.

The premier added that the nation does not know the importance of trees. “I want the youth to listen carefully and to know how important planting trees is for their future. Climate change will destroy our future,” he said.

The prime minister noted that Pakistan was the only country that had been blessed with 12 seasons. “No other country in the world has 12 seasons or the resources that we have and we should be thankful for that,” he added.

“In my lifetime I have seen our forests and trees be destroyed and the land encroached upon,” PM Imran said. “I want the Punjab chief minister to take action against those who have encroached upon the land of the forests and to treat them as criminals,” he said.

It is a crime against our children and their future, the prime minister said, adding that it was now the responsibility of the residents of Kundian to preserve the forests.

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“These forests will give you jobs and other resources, which you will realise in a few years,” he said, citing the example of DI Khan where trees had been planted on barren lands.

The prime minister added that the berry tree sapling that they planted today was high in demand all over the world and that soon people would be investing in it.