PM urges youth to plant more trees to reverse impact of climate change
Imran Khan said 70 percent of Lahore's tree cover was eroded and the previous regimes paid no heed
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said that a market has been established for the sale and purchase of politicians in Senate elections as corrupt practices had been going on for the senators’ election for the last 30 years.
Addressing the launching ceremony of Spring Tree Plantation Campaign at Ghazi Barotha on Friday, the prime minister said that the opposition parties for opposing the government’s efforts for holding the Senate elections through open ballot, saying those, who were in favour of the open ballot process for Senate polls in the past were now opposing the idea.
The opposition parties, he said, had a change of mind after their failure at the Minar-e-Pakistan rally, during FATF (Financial Action Task Force) legislation and in other moves.
“Now they want to get more seats in the Senate by purchasing our members. What kind of democracy is it?” he remarked.
The prime minister recalled that in 2018, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) despite having only six members in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly secured two Senate seats.
Imran Khan said the country was not affected much due to the corruption of `Patwaris’, `Thanedars’ or other government functionaries but when prime minister or ministers indulged in corruption, the country was badly hurt.
Imran Khan said when a prime minister stole the public money, he would stash it abroad through money laundering. “Stealing the public money causes one loss to country and the money laundering causes another big one,” he remarked.
“When prime ministers steal the public money, their children own palaces abroad and (corrupt) ministers also hold Iqamas (residence permits) of other countries, throwing their own country into a debt trap,” he added.
The prime minister said when a country was burdened with debt, it had to seek foreign assistance by compromising its respect and dignity.
“While those (rulers) hurt the country, they and their children, son-in-laws and brother-in-laws lead aristocratic lives abroad.
“When I see Ishaq Dar and Nawaz Sharif riding a Roll Royce in London, it appears that they were not born in Gwalmandi but in London,” Imran Khan remarked.
He urged the youth to play their due role in making the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami drive a success to protect the country from adverse impact of the climate change.
The premier said trees are vital to preserve the future of coming generations as Pakistan is amongst the ten most affected countries of the world by the negative impact of the climate change. He asked the youth to protect trees and the government will provide them sports grounds.
Imran Khan said 70 percent of Lahore s tree cover was eroded and the previous regimes paid no heed to that regard. He said we have to plant more trees to reverse the adverse impact of climate change.
Responding to some demands raised by Malik Amin Aslam, the special assistant on climate change, for the area, Imran Khan announced setting up of Special Technology zone at Kamra. He said the entire Punjab, including Attock district, will be provided with universal health coverage under Insaf Health Card by the end of this year. The Prime Minister said it has been government s policy to give priority to local people for jobs in projects established in an area.
Speaking on the occasion, Malik Amin Aslam said that one million trees will be planted along banks of the Ghazi Canal in next three years. He said the government is also working on constructing ten cricket grounds in the area.
The SAPM thanked the prime minister for approving provision of gas to 35 villages of the area from where natural gas is being extracted as priority right. He said a regional campus of Allama Iqbal Open University and a mother-child hospital are also being established in Attock to facilitate people of the area.
