PM Imran initiates 'Clean and Green Pakistan' drive

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan marked the beginning of 'Clean and Green Pakistan' drive on Saturday, by sweeping the ground and planting a sapling in the federal capital. 

The campaign is a part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government’s policy aimed at creating awareness among the people for a healthier environment.

Addressing the students at the ceremony the prime minister said, “It is important to protect the environment.”

Urging the students to take part in the campaign, PM Imran said it is connected with the future of the country.

“Pakistan ranks seventh among countries affected by global warming, [while] Lahore is among the cities with the highest pollution level,” the PTI chairperson said.

PM Imran further said, “There is no litter in Europe. We litter our country, our lakes and are destroying the future of our country. Pollution decreases 11 years of a person’s life.”

Vowing to plant more trees across the country, the prime minister said, “We launched a billion trees drive in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and now we are aiming to plant more across the country which could change weather pattern of the country.”

Last month, PM Imran launched "Plant for Pakistan" drive which was part of PTI government’s Billion Tree Tsunami 2018 drive.

Climate change is one of the main issues that PM Imran's government aims to tackle through initiatives like tree plantation.

The country-wide tree plantation drive came after the PTI-led provincial government in KP executed a large-scale tree-planting project during its tenure in the province.

According to experts, Pakistan is facing enormous environmental challenges.

A survey conducted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute ahead of the 2018 polls found that respondents prioritised three key environmental issues – rising temperatures, water shortages and air pollution.