ISLAMABAD: Viewing environmental challenges facing Pakistan, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday directed to launch ‘Green Growth Project’ in the country soon, ARY News reported.
According to a notification of the federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad, the adviser to prime minister on climate briefed the meeting on ‘Green Growth Project’.
PM Khan said for the first time in Pakistan, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had raised the issue of climate.
He said the governments in the past overlooked environment.
The premier said health, education and climate were the government’s top priority. He said the government had decided to make Islamabad a model city.
“Measures are needed to control issues faced by urban areas,” he said adding that the circle of model city would be extended to other metropolises.
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PM Imran Khan directed the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab governments to present the local government bill very soon.
The government also reviewed reforms agenda during the federal cabinet meeting, the notification said. The PM has expressed satisfaction on development on government’s reforms agenda.
The cabinet has expressed satisfaction on law reforms, local government system and alleviation in poverty.
Views were exchanged on FATA reforms, police reforms and agriculture emergency programme. The forum was also briefed on national financial and tax reforms as well.
The cabinet also discussed targets of development of small and medium enterprises. It reviewed progress in promotion of tourism and 5 million houses project.
It reviewed steps taken in energy sector, investment and ease of doing business.
Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul said that the government is making efforts to cover land with forest as specified by international standard.
She said that MOUs have been signed with Turkey and China to plant more trees in several parts of the country. She said that efforts are being made to make green Islamabad. She said that trees which were cut from the Islamabad Capital Territory were causing allergy and the government is planning to plant indigenous plants.
