ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul Wednesday informed the National Assembly that a total of 2.48 million saplings were planted during “Plant for Pakistan Day” campaign.

Responding to a question during the Question Hour, she said federal government provided inter provincial coordination to organize the campaign in the country.

The minister said the saplings distributed during the campaign were planted and were being maintained by the public and institutions that participated in the campaign from their own resources.

She said Ministry of Climate Change had taken various steps to counter climate change.

Under the “Green Pakistan Program-Revival of Forest Resources in Pakistan", the ministry had planned to plant 100 million trees in five years (2017-21) at a total cost of Rs 3.652 billion, she added.

The minister said so far a total of about 27 million plants had been planted in the provinces and other territories. This scheme was being revised and dovetailed with Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Campaign, she informed.

The Ministry has got funding of US $ 37.46 million from Green Climate Fund for Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) project in Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The “Clean Green Pakistan Movement” had been launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan on October 8, 2018 and Ministry of Climate Change was co-ordinating for its implementation with all the provinces including AJK and GB.

The key components of Clean Green Pakistan (CGP) Movement were to plant tree, solid waste management, liquid waste management, toilets facility and safe drinking water.

Climate Change Council under the chairmanship of Prime Minister had also been notified. The council includes Federal ministers, provincial chief ministers and other relevant official and non-official members.

She said the National Forest Policy had been approved by the Council of Common Interests and it was expected to be issued soon after approval from the competent forum.

To another question she said, to address the issue of food and energy security, Ministry of Climate Change had designed a project “Recharge Pakistan” with the aim to restore underground water level.

The flood water, to be drained off, would be utilized in wetlands to increase the level of the underground water and would also be used for restoration of ecological resources.

The minister said the country was working on a strategy that sought to conserve energy, improve energy efficiency and optimize fuel mix to support global efforts for reduction in emissions.