Pakistan elected 'vice chair' at UN environment forum

PM’s adviser says country's 'sincere' preservation endeavours acknowledged

Pakistan was elected as the vice chair at the third UN Environment's Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific that was held in Singapore from January 23 till January 25.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam revealed this Friday in a tweet. He said Pakistan got elected to the position owing to the country's 'sincere and dedicated' environment preservation endeavours.

Forty-one environment ministers of the region voted for Pakistan to represent them at the forum in Singapore, which was the host country and chair of the UN Environment Forum.

Speaking at the forum, Aslam said, "It is an honour for Pakistan as 41 environment ministers of the Asia Pacific, including China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand among others have chosen Pakistan to represent them."



The third session of UN Environment's Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific took place at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore.

The forum focused on the theme of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), 'Innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production' essentially aimed at a joint approach at the 4th UN Environment Assembly, scheduled in Kenya during March.

Adviser to PM along with Additional Secretary Babar Hayat Tarrar were representing Pakistan at the third session of UN Environment's Forum of Ministers & Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific, said a press release.

Addressing a panel at the forum, he said Pakistan is leading in climate actions to tackle the effects of climate change. "Pakistan is utilising her own available limited resources for implanting environment preserving initiatives and is also taking measures beyond her Nationally Determined Contributions."

He said Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched a nationwide Clean and Green Pakistan movement for the protection of environment that involves a 10 billion tree plantation drive, solid and liquid waste management and total hygiene and clean drinking water initiatives

Aslam also briefed the panel about the One Billion Tree Tsunami project successfully completed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province last year that got global recognition from the World Economic Forum, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The adviser also held meetings with the UN Environment Assembly President Siim Kiisler and Estonia’s minister for environment on the sidelines of the forum. Besides, he also met Sri Lanka president, Tuvalu’s prime minister, Singapore’s deputy prime minister and minister for environment and the UN Environment acting executive director to discuss cooperation for environment protection initiatives.

The UN Environment has finally decided in principle to open an office in Pakistan, this demand was made by Pakistan and followed up consistently, said the press release.