As part of its 'Earth Hour City Challenge-2016', WWF-Pakistan in collaboration with K-Electric (KE) has launched a 'tree plantation campaign' with an objective to work towards greener Karachi. During the launch ceremony of the campaign at WWF-Pakistan's Wetland Centre, participants from both organisations planted 500 mangrove saplings. The conservation body and the power utility committed that the target of planting 20,000 trees in Karachi would be achieved by June 2016.
Speaking on the occasion, Hammad Naqi Khan, DG WWF-Pakistan, said that the country had the highest annual deforestation rate in Asia and forests covered only 2.5 percent of the total land. He said that there was an urgent need of initiating massive plantation drives in metropolitan cities to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change.
He further said that recent heat wave in the city had caused more than one thousand deaths, which was very appalling. He said that though Pakistan was not contributing much to climate change but it ranked among the top ten most vulnerable countries, exposed to its adverse impacts. He emphasised on public-private partnership to promote the cause of environment in country. He further said that K-Electric was leading the way towards sustainable solutions to deal with this challenge.
Speaking on the occasion, K-Electric's Chief Supply Chain Officer Eram Hassan said that the plantation initiative resonated with their climate change policy and would have a huge impact in bringing Karachi on the map of sustainable cities having a sustained green future.
"KE will soon hold an energy conference to support utilisation of renewable energy," he added. He emphasised on creating awareness among people regarding conservation of energy. "We hope that Karachi emerges as a major participant in this Earth Hour City Challenge and KE as a responsible company will continue to provide utmost support to this green cause," he added. The lack of green belts and increased concrete cover which absorbs heat, has led to elevated temperature in Karachi. Furthermore, new developmental projects and housing colonies are threatening the existence of greenery/plantation and their subsequent cutting will not only escalate greenhouse gas emissions but also increase temperature and vulnerability to extreme weather events.
The plantation campaign is in line with the agreement signed between the power utility and WWF-Pakistan under the 'City Challenge' in the month of November last year, which plans to increase green footprint of Karachi as part of its environmental responsibility. The power utility has kept its emphasis on renewable energy and is committed to lowering carbon footprint through tree plantation and other such campaigns.
Deputy Director ESG and Sustainability, K-Electric, Zehra Mehdi, said: "Today is a proud moment for Karachi, and K-Electric, as we will be registering ourselves on the world's green map under the international 'Global City Challenge'. To support this cause, we will be planting 20,000 trees, while also exploring solar and other renewable energy opportunities with WWF for energy conservation." She said that the activity aimed to engage students, corporate sector, civil society organisations and media houses to create awareness among public at large for their support in this initiative. Sania Rauf Khan, Head of Corporate Partnerships and Fundraising Department, WWF-Pakistan, also spoke on the occasion.