Expressing confidence over his party's performance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Tuesday showed optimism of forming governments in all four provinces after next general election. Speaking at a function organized to celebrate the success of his party's Billion Tree Tsunami project, he said the country is facing two big challenges, climate change and pollution which need to be addressed on war footing.
"We, as a nation need to step up for fighting this otherwise there is destruction ahead. Climate change and pollution are two of the biggest challenges facing Pakistan's future right now," he maintained. Khan said that Pakistan is at number 7 among the countries most affected by climate change, adding that planting trees is the first frontline move against this as "we have achieved it successfully in KPK and will replicate it across the country."
"The pollution that we are seeing in Lahore, it is above the normal rates of pollution. Our SKMCH lung specialist has told us that children are the biggest victims of this; it can lead to stunted lung growth which, he says, will start showing in the next 4-5 years if we do not start countering it," he added. He stressed the need for promoting ecotourism which the PTI is bringing to KP, adding if people benefit from tourism then they won't feel the need to cut trees.
"We have also decided to make free plantation and education about preserving trees and pollution control part of curriculum in KPK. We are stopping use of polythene bags in the province and educating people how to recycle and get rid of waste properly," he added. He continued that PTI wants to increase 'Billion Trees Tsunami' project to two billion trees in next five years, adding he has discovered 4 new places and has decided to develop four hill stations every year.
Showing optimism about forming next government in the province, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak said that the next government of PTI will plant two billion trees across the province. He declared that success of the project despite threats from timber mafias is no less than a blessing.