Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Saturday urged the world to fight back for ecosystem restoration during the next decade and particularly retold the rich countries to assist the poor ones bearing the brunt of their immense carbon emissions.

“Pakistan has minimal contribution in carbon emission. The rich countries responsible for huge carbon emissions have the responsibility to at least provide funds to fight global warming and improve our environment. The issue is the resources gap,” he said, addressing the main ceremony of World Environment Day hosted by Pakistan here.

Telecast globally, the event featured the special messages of Chinese President Xi Jinping, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and address by Executive Director of the UN Environment Program Inger Anderson besides State Minister Zartaj Gul and SAPM Amin Aslam.

Held at the beautifully adorned Convention Center with themed green and themed ambiance by plants and decorations, the federal ministers, parliamentarians, and diplomats from various countries attended the event.

Many forest guards were also present who earned huge applause from the audience as the prime minister also paid huge tribute to their efforts and sacrifices to preserve the environment.

Explaining the resource constraints in Pakistan, the prime minister said during the pandemic, Pakistan, with a population of 220 million, could only scrape around $8 billion for a relief package. At the same time, 330 million nation of United States doled out a package of 4,000 billion to its people.

He told the world that half of Pakistan’s revenue went to debt servicing, leaving the government with insufficient resources to support people’s health, education, security, and other expenditures.

He reiterated that the resource-rich countries should support the developing countries who were fighting the war on climate change. He particularly thanked the UNEP and UN Secretary-General for repeatedly pressing the rich countries to take their carbon responsibilities.

He said Pakistan was also making efforts to reduce its already minimal emissions by switching 30% of its vehicles to electric transmission and ensuring 60% of its power generation through renewable resources by 2030.

He said it was an honor for Pakistan to host World Environment Day, which depicted the recognition of Pakistan’s efforts and inclusion among few countries concerned for a better environment for future generations.

The prime minister also urged the nation, particularly youth, to take responsibility for the environment-friendly initiatives so that the world could fight back for ecosystem restoration during UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.

He said like the developing countries, the teachers in Pakistan should also teach the importance of trees to inculcate in them the responsibility for environment conservation.

While carrying out any activity, the people must consider its impact on future generations, though some countries had been taking care of their environment since the beginning.

He said unfortunately Pakistan was among those countries where environmental protection was nowhere among the government’s priorities. He recalled that from its inception until the One Billion Tree Tsunami launch in KP in 2013, the country had planted only 640 million trees.

However, the PTI government, after the success of the One Billion Tree Tsunami, launched Ten Billion Tree Tsunami and also planted the first billion of them.

He lamented the massive deforestation, particularly at the Chhanga Manga, Kundian, Chichawatni, and Dipalpur, where the land mafias had occupied the forest land.

He said the UN Decade was an opportunity for the world to correct its course by fighting back the pollution, ensure clean water, and reduced carbon emissions.

He seconded UK Prime Minister’s words that future generations would have to bear the cost if we failed to protect the environment.

He said apart from measures introduced by Pakistan. Some issues needed the world’s attention to reducing carbon emission leading to glacier melting, posing threats to countries like Pakistan and Central Asia where glaciers fed rivers.