Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam Tuesday said that Ministry of Climate Change has set its five-point Green Vision for four years.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Malik Amin Aslam said the first agenda item includes 10 Billion Tree Tsunami (10 BTT). The cost of the project is Rs 125 billion whereas Rs 16 billion would be spent on the program for the ongoing year. "Around 50 million olive saplings would be planted under 10 BTT in the drought-hit areas across the country," he added.

The second agenda point item was ban on plastic bags which had achieved 80 percent success in the federal capital. However, in the next phase, violators of the ban would be penalized, he said.

Amin said the third agenda item is Clean Green Index which will be launched on October 30, 2019. Under this index, 20 districts would compete on 35 quantifiable targets based on cleanliness and solid waste management.

He said the ministry has prepared Electric Vehicle Policy to reduce air pollution in the country. He said the draft policy will be sent to the federal cabinet for approval soon. He said the policy included multiple targets including the sale of 100,000 electric cars, vans, jeeps and small trucks in the next five years. "It would get the cabinet's approval in the next meeting," the adviser said.

Amin Aslam told the media that Recharge Pakistan is the fifth project and the ministry is working on the project.

He informed that last year under Green Climate Fund around Rs 20 billion had been given to Pakistan. However, the ministry had developed Ecosystem Restoration Fund for the donor countries to participate in the environment conservation initiative being carried out in the country, he added.

Referring to the latest World Bank Report, Amin said the report has lauded the Clean Green Pakistan initiative of the Prime Minister and Green Punjab.

The cabinet, he said, had approved the project to make Islamabad a green zone whereas in order to curb indoor pollution, smokeless stoves project was also decided to give go-ahead.

He said, "We will raise Indian transboundary pollution issue at all global forums as India is not willing to talk to Pakistan on the issue. The crop stubble burning in India has direct impacts on the ambience of the country resulting in smog."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019