Zubair Qureshi
Adviser to Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Monday briefed the visiting team of the US senators about the various environment and climate change-related initiatives initiated under the patronage of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The US delegation includes Senator Chris Van Hollen, Senator Maggie Hassan and is currently on a visit to Pakistan to know about various development programmes, challenges as well as opportunities for the current government in various sectors.
The US Ambassador to Pakistan Paul Jones, Chargé d’Affaires Afreen Akhter and Political Military Unit Chief Sujata Sharma were also accompanying the US senators.
They discussed with PM’s adviser various development programmes of the American government and future opportunities of collaboration in various environmental, climate change, clean energy and waste-to-energy, according to Ministry of Climate Change press release.
Amin Aslam told the US delegation members that the climate change ministry had undertaken the world’s largest afforestation programme of 10 Billion Tree Tsunami Programme, launched Clean Green Pakistan Programme, banned single-use plastic bag and has developed an electric vehicle policy that would be implemented after the Prime Minister Imran’s Khan’s nod.
He further said that the country is implementing on several projects for tapping country’s massive renewable energy potential to meet growing energy demand and boost economic growth.
“Besides, policies measures are also being taken regarding promotion of sustainable building codes in Pakistan, urban resilience and water and sanitation programmes as a part of the present government’s vision and policies for conservation and protection of overall environment, protection from climate change impacts, and safeguarding peoples’ lives and livelihoods, particularly in vulnerable communities, he further told the U.S. delegation,” he informed the U.S. delegation.
Appreciating the present government’s initiatives for protection of environment, forests, the wildlife, promoting renewable energy, electric vehicle policy measures, waste-to-energy initiatives and enhancing the country’s climate-resilience against negative impacts of climate change on agriculture, forests, water, health, education and lives and livelihoods of the vulnerable communities.
The senators showed interest in supporting the present government’s environment and climate change-related programmes and engage with the present government on these initiatives.
