Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam called on Provincial Minister for Environment Protection Muhammad Rizwan here on Friday. Secretary Environment Protection Department Asad Rehman Gillani was also present on the occasion. During the meeting, they discussed at length about Punjab Green Development Program and introduction of reforms in the Environment Protection Department.
Speaking on the occasion, the provincial minister said that Punjab Green Development Program is a US$ 273 Program for Results (PforR) of which US$ 200 million are going to be financed by IDA of the World Bank Group. He said that Green Development Program is part of a larger Government of Punjab’s larger Annual Development Program. “The objectives of the program are to strengthen environmental governance and promote green investment in Punjab,” he added. He said that the program will not only help in dealing with environmental pollution but also in achieving Project Development Objectives.
He stressed that in order to control environmental pollution; everyone in society must play its role and keep the surroundings clean in order to overcome the negative impacts of climate change. “It is our responsibility to provide clean environment to the new generation. Likewise, it is also important to give awareness to the young generation regarding tree plantation”, he added.
Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, speaking on the occasion, said that climate change has become a global issue because it is affecting human lives directly. “Keeping all this in mind, the federal and provincial governments have not only given priority to the climate change issue but also arranged additional funds to deal with this important issue,” he added. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the scope of Clean and Green Programme has been extended and we are hopeful that we will be able to achieve the target of tree plantation, he said.