The Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) has finalised a policy regarding the electric vehicles (e-vehicles) in Pakistan, which will be tabled in the next meeting of the federal cabinet for approval, Special Assistants to the Prime Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said on Friday while addressing a press conference in the National Press Club, Islamabad.
Malik Amin Aslam said that special economic zones will be established in different parts of the country to support the electric vehicle industry in Pakistan. These vehicles will be environment friendly and will help in controlling the climate change. Moreover, the industry will also generate job opportunities for the youth. He claims that 30 percent of the vehicles will be e-vehicles until 2030.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan will launched tree plantation campaign on Sunday (August 18) by the name of “Har Bashar 2 Shajar” and 30 million tree will be planted in one day across the country, adding that plants distribution points will be established different areas of major cities where free sapling will be distributed among the citizens.
He appeals the public to plant at least two plants this year, with the theme “One for Pakistan and One for Kashmir” so that future can be made secured.
Amin Aslam that if the climate change issue is not tackled seriously 70 percent of the country could be converted to the desert, Pakistan is the most affected country across the world with 1 degree Celsius higher than the others, he maintained.
To a question regarding implementation of ban on polythene bag in Islamabad, he said that soon crack down will be started against the law violator and heavy fine will be imposed on polythene bag user, sellers and manufacturers if found. “To make Pakistan plastic free is among the priorities of the Government and we will make sure the implementation of the ban on polythene bags”, he maintained.
The forest resources of Pakistan are deteriorating both qualitatively and quantitatively with annual change rate during 1990-2000 was 1.8% and during 2000-2005 was 2.1%., shows the data of the Reduction Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) organization.
Malik Amin Aslam said, to counter the effects of climatic vagaries, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had conceived a gigantic afforestation and conservation project namely Billion Tree Afforestation Project in 2013. The provincial government successfully achieved that target by raising of departmental nurseries, establishing private nurseries and free distribution of plant seeding amongst the community and farmers for growing on their farm lands. According to the data shared by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa forest department, 1.208 billion plants grown/raised against a target of one billion. While 4509 enclosures established over an area of 306983 hectares. Data shows that about 13260 private nurseries units established under the project which have provided employment to more than 500,000 individuals. WWF had reported highest survival rate i.e. 88% of the plantation.
During the completion of this project, more than 11 people sacrificed their lives and six permanently disabled fighting against the forest fires and mafia, KP Forest Department stated.
