ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has urged collective national action to counter climate change through the Green Pakistan Programme, stressing that tree plantation is vital to safeguard the country’s future. In a message marking the launch of the monsoon tree plantation campaign, he said unpredictable weather, flash floods and cloudbursts had already caused devastation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other regions, underscoring the urgency of the initiative.
“This is not just about planting trees—it is about protecting livelihoods, creating healthier communities, and ensuring a climate-resilient future,” he said, adding that the campaign aimed to expand forest cover, restore ecosystems and rebalance nature.
The president announced that more than 41 million saplings would be planted nationwide between August and October, covering cities, villages, schools and government institutions. He emphasised that the campaign’s success relied on collective responsibility, calling on youth to act as ambassadors of change, the media to inspire households, and farmers, civil society and religious leaders to mobilize communities.
Highlighting the dangers of deforestation, rising temperatures and frequent floods, Zardari said trees act as shields against climate disasters by absorbing rainwater, reducing floods and landslides, cleaning air, conserving water and lowering extreme temperatures.
