Imran Khan for emulating China’s techniques to expand footprint of urban forests

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for emulating China’s techniques to expand the footprint of urban forests.

“Pakistan contributes to global carbon emission less than one per cent yet it is one of the most vulnerable countries in respect of effects of global warming due to glacier melting. We should follow China’s techniques,” he said while addressing a special event on Green Financing Innovations.

World Bank’s study on “Blue Carbon” was also presented on the occasion which, for the first time, gives an economic value to the country’s unvalued marine wealth including Pakistan’s mangroves and sea grasses.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with China’s Elion group to pilot green ecological zones in Pakistan.

PM Khan said: “Pakistan will take the lead in global efforts to tackle climate change. We need to achieve the one billion tree plantation target to protect the environmental future of the nation.”

It is imperative to set up national parks and plant trees, he said, underlining the importance of protecting environment for posterity.

Prime Minister Khan said it was encouraging that people had started raising awareness about tree plantation as even school children were taking part in the drive.

Later, a joint statement was signed to initiate dialogue with the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada for Pakistan’s first Nature Bond, and the possibility of a “Debt for Nature” swap.