ISLAMABAD (GNP) :- Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr Musadik Masood, announced that weekly tree plantation drives would be launched across Islamabad after March 31, in a renewed push to strengthen environmental protection, urban livability and climate resilience in the capital.
Addressing a plantation ceremony, minister said the campaign would continue for at least one to two months, covering multiple locations across the city. The initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to expand green cover and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to plant 10 trees for every one cut in Islamabad, adding that implementation of the pledge had now begun in practical terms. He invited the media and the public to observe the plantation activities and independently assess progress on the government’s commitments.
Linking afforestation efforts with broader climate challenges, Dr Musadik Malik said rising temperatures, increasing carbon emissions and greenhouse gases were intensifying extreme weather events, including floods and accelerated glacier melt. “Trees are essential for maintaining ecological balance as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen,” he said.
The federal minister emphasised that forests play a critical role in slowing down climate change by acting as natural carbon sinks, while also helping mitigate its adverse environmental, social and economic impacts. Trees, he noted, reduce the intensity of floods by enhancing water absorption, stabilise soil, prevent land erosion and lessen the damaging effects of strong winds during stormy weather conditions.
The minister said increasing tree cover also contributes to improving the livability of cities by lowering urban temperatures, reducing air pollution and creating healthier environments for residents. “Urban forestry is not just an environmental priority but a public health and quality-of-life imperative,” he added.
The minister noted that trees planted in earlier drives were being protected and had shown healthy growth, terming it a positive indicator of continuity and seriousness in government efforts.
Emphasising public participation, he stressed that awareness and community engagement, particularly among young people, were critical for building a culture of environmental responsibility. He appreciated schoolchildren for actively taking part in plantation activities, calling their involvement “encouraging and vital for the future.”
Recognising the role of the media, the minister said it had played a powerful part in sensitising the public about the importance of forests and their community-based protection and conservation. He urged media organisations to further step up awareness efforts, particularly on tree plantation and fuel-saving practices for the general public.
Malik also highlighted that fuel conservation under the government’s austerity policy would contribute to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, underscoring the link between economic discipline and environmental benefits.
Calling for a whole-of-society approach, the minister underscored the importance of active participation by communities, educational institutions, civil society organisations and the corporate sector in tree plantation campaigns, as well as in the protection and conservation of forest resources. He said such collective efforts were essential to support the government’s drive to increase national tree cover.
He further reaffirmed the present government’s commitment to the protection and conservation of forest resources, stating that these efforts were essential to achieving broader goals of environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
The announcement signals a continuation of policy focus on nature-based solutions as Pakistan grapples with increasing climate vulnerabilities, the federal minister Dr Musadik Malik emphasised.
