President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday asked leaders of all political parties and chief ministers to play an active role in the Clean & Green Pakistan drive for a healthy environment, safe disposal of solid and liquid waste, sanitation and hygiene. He in his letter asked the top leadership of all parties to play their vital role in raising awareness among masses and collectively addressing the challenges by adopting a whole-of-nation approach. The president said Pakistan was facing serious environmental issues and pointed that these have been getting worse with the expansion in country’s economy and population growth. He stressed dire need for a comprehensive action plan by the government to address worsening levels of pollution across the country. He said addressing the climate issues and tackling air, water and plastic waste pollution should be the priority areas of the new government. Dr Arif Alvi also said that Pakistan attached great importance to close cordial and fraternal relations with Egypt and was keen to further strengthen the political, economic and trade relations between the two countries. He was talking to Egyptian Ambassador Ahmed Fadel Yakoub who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr. Ambassador Ahmed Fadel Yakoub conveyed felicitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Dr Alvi on assuming the office. The president emphasised that bilateral relations between the two countries were rooted in shared faith and heritage. He hoped that Ambassador Yakoub would continue to play his positive role toward further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. Published in Daily Times, October 12th 2018.