Zubair Qureshi
A dedicated public park promoting best green practices of Ethiopia and Pakistan will be established in Islamabad next month to foster fraternity and brotherhood between the two countries under the on-going bilateral cooperation in the area of climate change.
The announcement to this effect was made during a press briefing jointly addressed by Ambassador of Ethiopia Mr JemalBekerAbdula, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, RominaKhursheedAlam and Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa held at the Ethiopia Embassy. The press briefing was followed by tree plantation ceremony which aimed at contributing to Ethiopia’s record-breaking initiative of planting 600 million seedlings in one day under the globally recognized Green Legacy Initiative of Prime Minister of Ethiopia Dr.Abiy Ahmed.
Individuals from all walks of life including government officials, diplomatic community, academicians, religious and business fraternity, youth, civil society and media gathered at the Ethiopia Embassy Islamabad and planted saplings of fruits, vegetables and other species under the Green Legacy Initiative.
Addressing the press briefing, Ambassador JemalBekerAbdula expressed gratitude to the Government and the people of Pakistan for contributing to 600 million tree plantation initiative of the Government of Ethiopia.
The Ambassador recalled the launch of Ethio-Pakistan Fraternity under the Green Legacy Initiative programme across Pakistan under which not only trees were planted across the country, but also Ethio-Pakistan Fraternity Parks and Enclaves have also been established.
“Climate Change is no more a buzzword rather it is a reality and for that matter we all have to join our forces to deal with the looming threat which is taking more lives than any other global crises,” said the Ambassador while announcing the launch of the 2nd round of Ethio-Pakistan Fraternity under the Green Legacy Initiative programme in Pakistan.
He announced that a dedicated park for Ethiopia-Pakistan friendship was being established in Islamabad in collaboration with the Climate Change Ministry and the CDA. The Ethiopian Embassy would look after the park after its establishment, he added.
Coordinator the PM on Climate Change RominaKhursheed while appreciating the Ethiopian project of 600 million seedlings, said she and the Ambassador of Ethiopia had also initiated a collaboration in areas of climate change and sustainable development goals since 2022. She recalled the launch of Ethio-Pakistan Fraternity Programme last year through collaboration between her office and the Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad under the Green Legacy Initiative of PM Dr Abiy Ahmed.
“This green legacy initiative stands as a beacon of hope for the world,” she said, adding that Pakistan was looking forward to learning from the best practices of Ethiopia.
