Published Date: Feb 9, 2017
SDPI Press Release (February 9,2017)
422 public sector schools in Islamabad to be made ‘Green Schools’
ISLAMABAD: As part of materializing the dream of greener Pakistan, 422 public sector schools will be turned into ‘Green Schools’ through organized tree plantation. Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi, Deputy Mayor Islamabad, made this announcement at the launch of tree plantation drive here on Thursday. The ceremony participated by large number of students and people from different walks of life, was held by Pakistan Youth Climate Network (PYCN) and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with federal Ministry of Climate Change.
The tree plantation drive was to strengthen and contribute in ‘Green Pakistan’ campaign which has been launched simultaneously in all provinces as well as Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Under the national campaign, 257 million trees, majority of which will be local and indigenous tree species will be planted across Pakistan.
Zeeshan Naqvi, while speaking Islamabad launch of the drive said that government and CSOs working together for a shared cause was a highly encouraging development for a greener and better Pakistan. He expressed the hope that the private sector would come forward to support this national cause under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations towards the nation and community building.
Majella Clarke from Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) while appreciating the initiative said that REDD was committed to support every endeavor that highlights the importance of increased forestation. She said that her organization was working with Ministry of Climate Change for Pakistan specific strategy in this regard.
Shakeel Ahmad Ramay of SDPI highlighted that the initiative of PYCN and SDPI was to signify the importance of trees to mitigate the impact of climate change and global warming and a neat and clean environment.
The drive was also initiated at Peshawar where SDPI joined hands with BARAN organization and Peace Foundation in Peshawar. Sajad Ali Akbar from BARAN, Maqsood Ahmed Salafi from Peace Foundation, Ajmal Khan, Director, Directorate of Culture and Deputy Director and Amin Khan on the occasion vowed to make Pakistan green a mass plantation drive in future.
To mark the event at national level, SDPI in collaboration with PYCN and other stakeholders launched similar drives at Lahore, Karachi and Quetta while highlighting the importance of forestation in Pakistan.