Civil Society, City Leadership Vow To Make Islamabad Green Capital

ISLAMABAD,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News -2nd Sep,2016) : The newly elected District Government of Islamabad is working hard to make Islamabad the green capital of the world, which needs 10 times more trees than the population of the city.

This was stated by Deputy Mayor of Islamabad Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi, after planting tree saplings at a busy Blue area service and parking area, said a press release here Friday. The campaign titled: `Reclaim Ecology in the Heart of Islamabad' was organized by SDPI's Pakistan Youth Climate Network (PYCN) in collaboration with Heinrich Boell Stiftung (HBS) Pakistan and supported by Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi, Deputy Mayor, Islamabad a special tree plantation campaign was carried out in the commercial area.

The deputy mayor thanked the SDPI's PYCN and the participating youth volunteers for organizing the campaign and assure all out support for such green activities, in future. Executive Director, SDPI, Dr.

Abid Q Suleri on the occasion said, the plants to earth are like lungs to the human body. They also help in beautification of our planet. Dr Abid said, Islamabad is losing its green character, as result of speedy construction and encroachments in commercial areas.

He said, SDPI is trying to reclaim the beauty of Islamabad, through such green activities of planting trees.

"Youth are important pillar of our society and engaging them in green activities would yield positive results," he added.

Mome Saleem, programme coordinator HBS, Pakistan office said, the plantation drives is an effort to reclaim environment of our beautiful capital, which we have destroyed during last many years.

She said, trees also absorb carbon dioxide, which would also help in improving environment of the capital. Pakistan Youth Climate Network, PYCN's President, Yasir Dil said, youth comprises more than 60 percent of our society and they need to come forward to help protect environment.

He said, in this tree plantation drive youth volunteers planted trees by their Names, and took oath to protect the saplings for the next 6 months. PYCN provides a platform to engage those youth in pro-environment activities, who want to bring change, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, SDPI Senior Research Associate, Shakeel Ahmed Ramay said during last year, as a result of climate change, we experience severe heat waves, which claim more than 1000 lives. He said that trees can serve as green shelter during such extreme climate events.