PM Imran terms food security Pakistan's biggest challenge

Launches olive plantation campaign in Nowshera; says campaign will generate employment opportunities

NOWSHERA:

Prime Minister Imran Khan launched an olive plantation campaign in Nowshera on Monday as part of the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project.

"Olive plantation will help provide the youth with employment opportunities," the PM said while addressing a gathering on the occasion.

He termed food security Pakistan's biggest challenge, adding that the government had the task of planting 10 billion trees ahead of it and that it will make fruit-tree plantation a part of the campaign.

According to the premier, climate change had turned into a major challenge today. "The second biggest challenge is to increase the foreign exchange reserves, while the third is creating employment opportunities," he added.

Read PTI's environment policies being recognised globally: PM Imran

"Pakistan is one of the 10 countries battling severe effects of climate change. The purpose of planting 10 billion trees is to safeguard future generations," the premier observed.

PM Imran recalled that the country was faced with the challenge of the biggest debt in its history when his government came into power. He noted that the country's exports had increased while imports had decreased.

The premier was accompanied at the inaugural by Defence Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and other provincial high-ups.

Olive plantation

The olive plantation drive is part of the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami project wherein olive trees will be planted at suitable places across the country.

Promoting olive cultivation is one of the priorities of the federal government in an effort to make the farmers prosperous and save valuable foreign exchange.

Earlier on March 14, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led government’s environmental policies were garnering global recognition.

The premier said this while sharing a video of the World Economic Forum (WEF), summarising Pakistan’s green policies, on his Twitter.

Read more PM inaugurates Islamabad's 'first ever' Miyawaki forest

“Globally PTI's environment policies are being recognised esp our green recovery programme from the Covid 19 pandemic and our Climate action plan,” the prime minister said in his Sunday tweet.

The WEF video detailed three ways through which Pakistan aims to build a greener future.

The country has “pledged to source 60% of energy from renewables by 2030. It has cancelled coal projects, replacing them with hydroelectric power,” the video stated.

The video went on to highlight Pakistan's creation of over 85,000 green jobs, "….from plant care to the protection of forests. It’s training 5,000 young people to be nature guardians.”

The WEF clip added that the Government of Pakistan was also investing on creating green spaces.