PESHAWAR: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday has launched the olive plantation drive which is the part of part of Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme during a ceremony held in Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The Prime Minister planted a sapling of olive at model plantation site of Amangarh in Nowshera, where a cultivation of around 7,200 olive plants will be carried out.
The PM visited the cultivation area, where he was given a briefing about the potential of olive plantation on the occasion.
The PM was briefed about the olive cultivation project. On the occasion, KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, Governor Shah Farman, Federal Minister for Defence, Pervaiz Khattak, Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam, KP Minister for Finance and Health, Taimoor Saleem Jhagra, Special Assistant to CM, Kamran Bangash, MPAs, CS KP Dr Kazim Niaz and other high officials were present.
Prime Minister Imran Khan while addressing the ceremony appreciated the KP government for initiating the olive plantation campaign, which would not only bring great positive impact in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but the other areas of the country.
“Successful olive plantation campaign will benefit Pakistan by addressing climate change and increasing exports of the country,” he said.
The PM said, “Pakistan spends a lot on import of edible oil that can be reduced with the production of olive oil locally by planting olive trees particularly on western bank of the Sindh River. Balochistan’s land is also suitable for olive plantation. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government should use the Miyawaki method of plantation in Peshawar to tackle the growing issue of pollution in the city.”
Counting the major challenges of Pakistan, the PM said that the food security is the biggest issue of the country, saying that Pakistan has imported 10 lakh wheat in previous year and 40 lakh wheat in this year, whereas sugar was also imported.
He said the government’s prime duty is to ensure food and proteins to the entire pollution.
The premier further said that the climate change is another challenge, saying that our country is amongst 10 nations regarding climate change. He said the Pakistan’s population is growing rapidly, mostly youth, so providing jobs for them is a biggest challenge.
Imran Khan said the environmental pollution has increased and the government was taking steps to overcome climate change issues to secure the future of the next generation. He called upon the people from all walks of life to ensure their participation in the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme.
With the cultivation of olive across the country, the PM expressed hope that Pakistan can improve foreign exchange reserves by export of olive, besides the initiative would also save huge dollars spending on import of edible oil from different countries.
According to the sources, the PM held meetings with the senior leadership of his party. The prime minister also briefed on provincial political and administrative matters.
Earlier, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said the international community particularly the World Economic Forum (WEF) had appreciated the role of Prime Minister Imran Khan for tackling worsening affects of climate change.
He said in an interview with a private television channel that the world has acknowledged the Prime Minister’s vision for “Clean and Green Pakistan”.
Many countries are approaching Pakistan for its experience regarding tackling climate change effects on different regions, he added.
Replying to a question about construction of parks, he said the PTI government was focusing on the construction of more national parks all over the country for creating a healthy environment.
Commenting on targets of the incumbent government, the SAPM said, “We have set targets of three billion trees to be planted in different regions of Pakistan.” He further stated the task of three billion trees would be accomplished by the end of 2023.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021
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