PM invites Cher to join Pakistan’s climate efforts

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday met iconic American singer and actress Cher, who has arrived in Pakistan to send off Kaavan, the elephant she has spent years trying to free, before he is moved to a sanctuary in Cambodia on Sunday.

The premier appreciated the singer’s efforts for the 36-year-old Asian elephant, which has spent most of his life at Islamabad Zoo, much of that time without a companion. Animal rights advocates have campaigned for him to be rescued from grim conditions.

Cher tweeted her thanks after meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday “For Making It Possible For Me To Take Kaavan To Cambodia”.

A statement from the prime minister’s office said he had thanked Cher and invited her to participate further in environmental initiatives in Pakistan.

He asked her to contribute towards the government's initiative for the expansion of protected areas, to which she agreed.

Cher appreciated the government's initiatives to ensure a cleaner and greener Pakistan.  She said both the ‘Protected Areas Initiative’ and the ‘10 Billion Tree Tsunami’ projects of the government were highly commendable and praiseworthy. Cher also offered her support for furthering the green initiatives through her organisation ‘Free the Wild’.

The prime minister observed that it was indeed a happy moment for everyone that giving joy and happiness to the people of Islamabad and the rest of the country for about 35 years, Kaavan would now be able to retire with other elephants in the sanctuary in Cambodia.

Kaavan will be airlifted to the Cambodian province of Siem Reap. He has been training with international specialists from rescue organisation Four Paws, armed with bananas and other treats to get him used to the small enclosure and loud noises of the 10-hour flight.

Wellwishers in Pakistan, including President Arif Alvi, have been saying goodbye to Kaavan this week.

Separately, the prime minister visited the payment site of Ehsaas Kifalat Programme in Islamabad and interacted with the beneficiaries. Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar on the occasion briefed the prime minister about the Ehsaas Digital Programme, which had been launched to facilitate women beneficiaries and avoid fraudulent activities in disbursement of the payment. She said the initiative would save women from visiting banks to get their amounts because digital vaults had been provided from where the beneficiaries could receive their payments as well as keep their cash safe there.

PM Imran also sought proposals from industrialists for modernising the agriculture sector and enhancing the production of various crops in a bid to launch corporate farming at a larger scale.

“National development and prosperity was linked to the development of the business community, he said while talking to a delegation of leading industrialists and businessmen.

He directed the authorities concerned to resolve the issues faced by the industrialists regarding the export of their products.

The delegation thanked the prime minister for boosting trade activities in the country. They said the high level of foreign exchange reserves reflected the country's economic stability and the surplus current account was a welcome sign. The businessmen said the demand for cement these days was the highest in the country's history due to the promotion of construction activities, which had generated immense employment opportunities during the pandemic. Agencies

(With input from AFP)