Cleanliness of cities, plantation of 10 billion trees are govt's target: PM Imran

PM Imran hinted at introducing a system of reward and punishment to overcome climate change hazards.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said that cleanliness of cities and plantation of 10 billion trees is government’s target.

Addressing Clean-Green Index Encouragement awards distribution ceremony in Islamabad on Monday, he emphasized on reforestation in Pakistan to save future of the coming generations.

The prime minister said we have set an ambitious target of planting 10 billion trees, while keeping our cities clean by managing solid waste is next objective.

He said efforts are also being made to generate electricity from the solid waste as being done in rest of the world, adding that we have to clean air and water pollution, for which we have to first change mind-set of the people to get them realized its importance.

Imran Khan also hinted at introducing a system of reward and punishment to overcome climate change hazards.

He said deputy commissioners and other officials, who perform well in this movement of Clean-Green Pakistan, should be rewarded and this should be reflected in their Annual Confidential Reports as well.

Imran Khan referred to the high levels of pollution in major cities of Lahore, Faisalabad, Karachi, Peshawar and Gujranwala particularly during the winter season and expressed his fear that it could cause the spike of COVID-19 during the second wave of pandemic.

He, however, pointed out that the international institutions, including the World Health Organization (WHO) appreciated Pakistan for its effective handling of the COVID-19 and put it among the world’s four countries, which, besides protecting the people from the virus, also saved themselves from economic impacts.

Imran Kahn said there was a need to change the mindset of people to bring in changes at the ground level, and create awareness among them about the importance of clean and green environment.

Appreciating the efforts of deputy commissioners of the cities that won the encouragement awards under clean and green index, he said there should be more incentives for the officers working to ensure cleanliness in the cities.

The prime minister, however, added that since there was a culture of equal treatment of people in bureaucracy in terms of salaries and perks, there was a need to introduce a system of reward and punishment to encourage the hard-working officers.

If the deputy commissioners ensuring cleanliness in their respective districts were awarded with incentives, including the financial awards, then those not performing well should be punished, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam briefed that Attock and Bannu districts clinched the first position on the climate change index in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa respectively.