Daily Times

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam has said that the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) requested the provinces to increase women share in raising plant nurseries under 10 Billion Tree Tsunami more than existing ten percent share in raising plant nurseries.

Talking to APP, the SAPM said Billion Tree Tsunami project implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was a successful experiment of enabling women with a dignified livelihood opportunity.

The project assisted them to raise plant nurseries at their household in rural areas which was a new yet difficult task for them.

He said, “The lady community mobilization teams of the forest department used to approach such women mostly impoverished and destitute and educate and train them on how to raise a nursery.”

In Billion Tree Tsunami, he said the women share in providing and raising nurseries was 20 percent which in 10BTT was 10 percent at the moment.

The monsoon plantation target of 200 million saplings was the largest ever goal set by the government and also the 3.5 million saplings plantation a day under Plant for Pakistan Day on August 9 also had the share of women nurseries.

He said: “Around 324 million plants have been planted and 85,000 employment opportunities have been created for daily wagers.”

The daily wagers include green nighebaans (guards) that protect plantation enclosures under the 10BTT project, nursery workers, labourers planting saplings on different locations. The Prime Minister’s Green Stimulus package also targeted COVID-idled youth including women to plant trees, raise saplings and protect the plantation from intruders, Amin added. The 10BTT project was the flagship programme of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government that decided to set a goal of 10 Billion Tree Plantation across the country with estimated capital cost of Rs 110.0826 billion that includes Forestry Component Rs. 98.051 billion and Wildlife Component Rs. 12.0316 billion.

“It’s a Rs. 125.184 billion programme aimed to increase the forest cover by planting 3.22 billion trees in phase I; undertake major biodiversity initiatives especially conservation of national parks. The initiative is expected to yield one million jobs in next four years.” This mega project was expected to yield multiple environmental dividends including reducing greenhouse gas effects, lowering cases of random floods and droughts and enhancing other biodiversity and was appreciated at international forums including World Economic Forum (WEF).

He said Normandy Chair for Peace which was one of the largest forums of international environmental jurists and experts also lauded the 10BTT and Green Stimulus package.

The Forum in its appreciation letter said the example depicted by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s green conservation project was also a major part of the new economy, aiming to conserve, protect and restore the Land, Air, and Waters (LAW) of Life which was also called the CPR Economy. It also pointed out that the Forum had also taken stock of engaging of women and children in the effort who would be otherwise doing nothing worthwhile and losing their dignity.

The environment preserving programme was addressing many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as, among others, zero hunger (SDG-1), Gender Equality (SDG-5), Decent Work and (Sustainable) Economic Growth (SDG-8), Life on Land (SDG-15), the letter added.

Amin Aslam has said the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) was mulling over incentives for four-wheelers under National Electric Vehicle Policy which would be announced soon.

In an exclusive talk with APP, he said MoCC drafted the National Electric Vehicle Policy with the broad aim of getting the EVs introduced in the country in a phased manner addressing the issue of climate change and air pollution leading to many associated health benefits.

Amin said the draft policy would provide net benefits in the range of US$ 2.2 billion to US$ 3.7 billion as net saving in oil import bill to the country under different scenarios in the 2020 to 2030 time period.

He added that the target of the Policy was to ensure 30 percent conversion of fuel based vehicular transport over electric vehicles by 2030.

Additionally, there were numerous economic benefits as the policy was pillared on, “make in Pakistan”, envisaging development of local manufacturing and job opportunities.

Passed on June 10th 2020, he said the EV policy was passed mainly dealing with the two-wheeler and three-wheeler vehicles only that was motorbikes and auto-rickshaws respectively, and was aimed at lowering tariffs and taxes. However, further deliberations were underway to extend incentives to four wheelers including cars, buses and trucks which would be announced soon.

He added that it aimed to bring half a million electric motorcycles and rickshaws, along with more than 100,000 electric cars, buses and trucks, into the transportation system over the next five years.