Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged upon the nation to join hands in making Pakistan clean and green, turning it into an environment-friendly place for present and coming generations.

“We have to make a decision today what kind of Pakistan we want – either clean or polluted,” the prime minister said in his address at the launch of Clean Green Pakistan Index Cities Ranking here at the Convention Centre.

The event marked oath-taking of the office-beaers of CGPI Implementation Committees from 19 cities across the country, witnessed by the prime minister and a jam-packed hall of youth as Green Champions.

The prime minister said Allah Almighty had blessed Pakistan with land of unmatched 12 climatic zones, fertile lands producing a variety of fruits, reserves of gold, copper and gas and unexplored treasure of rare earth minerals.

“We need to realize the worth of this land, make united efforts to preserve its natural environment and turn it into a hub of tourism,” he said.

The prime minister regretted that ruthless tree-cutting in Lahore during the last decade in the name of development played havoc with the great city, which was now engulfed by life-threatening smog.

“The concrete jungle in Lahore has replaced 70 percent tree cover and the result is obvious in shape of silent-killer pollution,” he said, adding that the reason was nobody thought about the environmental impact while carrying out developmental projects.

He recalled that Lahore, which 30 years ago boasted fresh air and clean drinking tap water, had now become life-threatening for children and the elderly due to an alarming rise in lung diseases due to an unhealthy environment.

Imran Khan stressed that cleanliness was an important aspect of the Islamic teachings and said ‘We need to live our lives keeping in mind the consequences of our steps for this world”.

He said disposal of solid waste and industrial garbage into rivers and streams had contaminated the water flow which even seeped into the underground water reservoirs.

He said the government could not overcome the environmental challenge alone and needed the collective efforts of elected representatives and the general public.

Terming youth and student’s future of the country, he asked them to come forward and make Pakistan clean and green.

The prime minister said the government was about to launch the country’s best-ever local body system in the country to genuinely ensure the empowerment of people at the grassroots level, where public even in villages would be encouraged to participate in the contest of Green Champions.

He said though it would be implemented in Punjab and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, however, proposed the Sindh government that adoption of a similar model would be helpful in addressing its civic issues.

Imran Khan said, “We have to understand the concept of Naya Pakistan, which means the change of mind first in the right direction.”

He said Allah Almighty does not change the condition of a nation unless it makes efforts to bring a change within.

The prime minister said greed had destroyed the planet Earth and stressed that taking care of the environment was equal to serving Allah’s creatures.

He expressed confidence that the country would soon achieve the goals of green Pakistan and said plantation at a vast level would be carried out at open spaces across the country.