ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari has called for enhancing the national forest coverage by planting more trees to mitigate the negative impacts of global warming and climate change.
According to a President House statement on Sunday, President Zardari said that Pakistan was one of the most vulnerable nations to global warming, climate change and urged the youth and civil society to increase forest cover and plant more trees to mitigate their negative impacts.
He expressed these views while planting a “Neem” sapling at Bilawal House, in Karachi, as a part of the annual Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign. August 18th marks the National Tree Plantation Day in the country.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that “Neem” was an environment-friendly tree, offering various environmental benefits, such as cool shade, clean air and acting as a natural mosquito repellent.
He recalled that during Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed’s first tenure as Prime Minister, he had served as the Minister for Climate and had conducted a tree plantation campaign, wherein Neem trees were planted throughout the country. He added that the need to plant trees had become of paramount importance in view of the soaring temperatures in Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari called upon the nation, particularly the civil society and youth, to actively participate in the Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign and plant as many trees as possible in their neighborhoods and surroundings for a better and healthy environment.
The President added that the Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign was a great opportunity to enhance forest cover and increase greenery. He said that enhancing forests and greenery would make the environment of the country healthier and safer.
President Zardari said that Pakistan had undertaken successful mangrove restoration, under which mangroves on millions of acres of land had been planted in the province of Sindh.
