Islamabad to launch afforestation projects

Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Romina Khurshid Alam had a meeting with a delegation led by Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman, Muhammad Ali Randhawa and the officials signed an agreement for the Climate Ministry and CDA to collaborate on afforestation projects covering 700 acres near Baharakahu.

The CDA chairman briefed Alam on various projects focused on urban planning, renewable energy, environmental health, transport, zero waste, and water management, all aimed at developing Islamabad as a smart city. Additionally, the CDA is developing an extensive bicycle route network to promote sustainable commuting options throughout the city.

Alam said that climate change-caused extreme weather events, particularly heat waves and urban flooding incidents are posing grave risk to the lives and livelihoods of the people and public infrastructure.

However, building climate-resilience of the cities against adverse impacts of climate change is crucial for making the urban environmentally-sustainable and resilient- livable places, she said.

Alam stressed promoting concepts and implementing policies for climate-resilient urbanisdsation not only can help us address immediate environmental and climate change-related challenges but also promote long-term sustainability, equity, and quality of life in urban areas. She further said that making cities climate-resilient is not possible without involving a multifaceted approach that includes planning, infrastructure development, community engagement and relevant policy implementation.

The PM's climate aide highlighted that the country's several cities are facing significant climate risks, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar. With increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall, and rising sea levels, the need for climate adaptation strategies has never been more urgent.

"The climate change and environmental ministry is taking all-out measures and implementing policies and frameworks to create sustainable urban environments for making cities environmentally-sustainable and climate-resilient so that they can withstand the impacts of climate change while improving the quality of life for residents," said Alam.

During the meeting, Alam emphasised that Islamabad will enhance its green cover and flowering plants, positioning itself as a benchmark for other cities to emulate in achieving sustainability goals.

She also highlighted the importance of addressing climate-related health issues, advocating for the relocation of paper mulberry trees to mitigate pollen allergies affecting residents.

Romina Khurshid suggested that revamping parks across Islamabad to enhance the city's green spaces and improve recreational areas for residents. It should be aligned with broader environmental goals, including increased tree planting and promoting biodiversity within urban settings.