PM orders disbursement of Rs553m across Pakistan to fight climate change

ISLAMABAD: On the directive of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the first tranche of Green Pakistan funds to the tune of Rs553 million has been disbursed, said a PM’s Office statement issued on Wednesday.

"I would like to reiterate my personal commitment and urge the nation to work for a Green Pakistan which values it’s trees, wild life and bio-diversity as most precious endowments of the mother nature", said the PM.

The funds were disbursed to the provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on the eve of International Day of Forests.

“The funds will be used to undertake afforestation across Pakistan to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change,” the statement added.



It said that the Green Pakistan funds have been sanctioned to all the provinces without any preferences.

Every year, the International Day of Forests is held on March 21st in a bid to raise awareness about the importance of forests and their role in the eradication of poverty, environmental sustainability and food security.

According to the United Nations (UN), sustainable management of all types of forests is at the heart of unlocking challenges of conflict-affected, developing and developed countries, for the benefit of current and future generations.

They cover one-third of the earth's land mass and some 1.6 billion people are dependent on forests for their livelihoods, medicines, fuel, food and shelter, said the UN.