ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari emphasized that Pakistan is one of the countries most severely impacted by climate change. In his message on World Environment Day, Zardari highlighted the country’s exposure to various climate phenomena such as floods, droughts, heatwaves, and forest fires.
“Today, we commemorate World Environment Day to raise awareness about land degradation, desertification, and droughts,” said Zardari. He noted Pakistan’s commitment to addressing environmental challenges through initiatives like the Green Pakistan Programme, which has achieved significant progress in afforestation and ecosystem restoration.
Zardari also mentioned the National Adaptation Plan and Climate Smart Agriculture as evidence of Pakistan’s dedication to sustainable agricultural practices and land degradation mitigation.
“World Environment Day’s focus on land restoration, combating desertification, and building drought resilience is highly relevant,” he remarked. “This day underscores our collective duty to protect our environment for future generations. We reaffirm our commitment to innovative solutions and international partnerships to overcome these challenges.”
While Pakistan is taking steps to address desertification, land degradation, and drought through the restoration of degraded forests and agricultural lands, Zardari stressed that more efforts are needed. “We must adopt sustainable land management practices, water conservation techniques, and support community actions to promote forestation in both rural and urban areas,” he said.
Zardari called for mobilizing federal and provincial departments and local communities to combat desertification, land degradation, and droughts by efficiently managing water resources, restoring pastures, and enhancing soil water-holding capacity through increased tree planting. “Our focus on climate adaptation and mitigation is crucial for ensuring our nation’s sustainability,” he stated.
On World Environment Day, Zardari urged the nation to renew its commitment to environmental protection, aiming for a healthier, safer, and more resilient planet for future generations.
