ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Prime Minister Imran Khan has accorded in-principle approval for the “National Climate Change Policy 2021” and the “National Wildlife Policy 2021” and directed that a Special Zone in the Margalla Hills be declared as a Leopard Preservation Zone.
While chairing the third meeting of the PM’s Committee on Climate Change in Islamabad on Wednesday, the prime minister also approved the establishment of the Wildlife Information Center at Islamabad’s Marghazar Zoo.
The prime minister also directed the establishment of a think-tank to coordinate efforts between various ministries and to devise out-of-the-box solutions for climate change mitigation.
Imran Khan directed the Ministry of Climate Change to review targets and formulate new goals aiming at fast-tracking the steps required to preserve the natural environment. He emphasized that the preservation of Pakistan’s National Parks is paramount and we should induct trained manpower and utilize modern technology.
Prime Minister Imran Khan appreciated the efforts of his Special Assistant on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam for environmental protection and highlighting Pakistan’s efforts in this field.
The prime minister said that Pakistan has established its credibility as a Green Champion due to the flagship 10 billion tree program. He said that the international community is acknowledging Pakistan’s realistic and tangible steps to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
“It was our government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which undertook the initiative of billion tree tsunami and now the whole world is following our footsteps,” he said.
The prime minister also said that the world must help developing countries to cope with climate change impacts.
Earlier, Malik Amin Aslam briefed the meeting in detail about Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Climate Change Policy, National Wildlife Policy, and Green Climate Diplomacy.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Syed Fakhar Imam, Muhammad Hammad Azhar, Moonis Elahi, the National Security Advisor Dr. Yusuf Moeed, the Minister of State Zartaj Gul Wazir, the Special Assistant on Political Communication Dr. Shahbaz Gill, the Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan, and the Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan Khalid Khursheed.
The Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar, the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan, the Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, and the Sindh Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ismail Rahoo joined the meeting via video link.
