Islamabad: President Asif Ali Zardari has urged the public to actively participate in the monsoon tree plantation campaign.
During the annual monsoon plantation drive at Bilawal House in KarachiPresident Zardari planted a “neem” tree. The 18th of August is observed as the National Tree Plantation Day during the monsoon season in Pakistan.
President Zardari emphasized the need to increase the forest cover at a national level stating that planting more trees is essential to combat climate change and mitigate the negative impacts of global warming. He highlighted that Pakistan is one of the countries most affected by climate change and global warming.
He further encouraged youth and civil society to contribute to expanding forest areas by planting more trees. Neem trees, he noted are environmentally friendly and provide numerous benefits including cleaner air, cooler shade and natural mosquito repellent.
President Zardari also recalled that during Benazir Bhutto’s first term as Prime Minister, she launched a nationwide tree plantation campaign while serving as the Minister for Climate Affairs. Under that campaign, neem trees were planted across the country.
Given the rising temperatures in Pakistan today, President Zardari stressed that the need for tree planting has become even more urgent. He called on the nation particularly the youth and civil society to participate enthusiastically in the monsoon plantation drive.
The writer is a mass communication student at Government Gulberg College, Lahore. She can be reached at [email protected]