ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is hosting World Environment Day in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme today on Saturday.
This year’s observance of World Environment Day will be on the theme of “ecosystem restoration” and focus on resetting our relation with nature. The day will be celebrated across the world through various events and activities, in line with latest Covid-19 regulations.
As host of World Environment Day, Pakistan will highlight environmental issues and showcase the country’s own initiatives and its role in global efforts. Led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan is fully committed to playing a leadership role in addressing the issue of climate change through various projects and initiatives. The day will also mark the formal launch of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.
The main event in Pakistan will be held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad where the official activities will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan and live-streamed across the globe through official and social portals.
The prime minister would formally announce achievements of the first billion trees plantation target under the flagship Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Plantation (TBTTP) project and meeting the recent Bonn Challenge pledge,
He will also announce the successful restoration of 0.3 million hectares of forest cover in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 15 national parks along with marine protected area established under the Protected Areas Initiative, and finally the Green Financing Initiative introduced by Pakistan for Ecosystem Restoration Fund.
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The day will be observed across the Punjab province with a renewed commitment to fight population explosion, over-exploitation of resources, excessive land use, lack of environmental awareness and global warming through sustained efforts.
The Environment Protection Department (EPD) Punjab has declared celebrating June 1-7 as the Environment Week every year with to mobilise students, activists, stakeholders and the civil society for the cause of a liveable planet. Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi will be the chief guest at a seminar to be organised by the EPD Punjab.
The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Lahore will distribute plants among the public to raise awareness on environmental challenges to the metropolis and make the people understand the importance of green cover in fighting pollution and hazardous emissions.
The deputy commissioners (DCs) in districts of Punjab have been directed by Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar to hold ceremonies to commemorate WED in their respective districts to underline the importance of protecting nature.
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In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the provincial government has completed all arrangements to showcase its various achievements and initiatives completed under the landmark billion trees afforestation project (BTAP) having a record plantation of 1.708 billion saplings through forest enclosures, man-made and farm forestry during the last seven and half years, in the historic international environment moot scheduled in Islamabad
Besides BTAP, KP’s first-ever policy to fight climate change & desertification, ensuring ecosystem and depleted forest restoration, conservation of wildlife and biodiversity initiatives would be highlighted. There will also be similar celebrations to be made in rest of the federating units highlighting the importance of environmental conservation and redefining human relationship with nature.
The UN Decade is intended to massively scale up the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystem to fight the climate crisis, prevent the loss of a million species and enhance food security, water supply and livelihoods.
Major corporations, non-governmental organizations, communities, governments and celebrities from across the world adopt the World Environment Day to champion environmental causes. Held annually since 1974, the day has also become a vital platform for promoting progress on the environmental dimensions of the Sustainable Development Goals.
