At a plantation ceremony in Shakarparian, Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Dr Musadik Malik announced that weekly tree plantation drives will be launched across Islamabad after March 31, part of a campaign scheduled to run for at least one to two months and cover multiple city locations.
The minister said the initiative is a practical step toward expanding urban green cover and that the government has begun implementing its pledge to plant 10 trees for every one cut in Islamabad. He invited media and members of the public to attend and independently observe progress on the government’s commitments to tree plantation.
Linking the campaign to wider climate challenges, Dr Musadik Malik highlighted how rising temperatures, increased carbon emissions and greenhouse gases are intensifying extreme weather events, including floods and accelerated glacier melt. He stressed that trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, making them vital to maintaining ecological balance and strengthening climate resilience.
The minister noted that forests act as natural carbon sinks and that increasing tree plantation in urban and peri-urban areas helps reduce flood intensity by improving water absorption, stabilise soil to prevent erosion and lessen storm damage from strong winds. He said greater tree cover also cools cities, lowers air pollution and improves overall public health and quality of life.
Dr Musadik Malik pointed to earlier plantation drives, reporting that saplings are being protected and showing healthy growth, a sign of continuity and seriousness in government efforts. He welcomed the active participation of schoolchildren in planting activities and described their involvement as encouraging and vital for the future.
Emphasising the role of awareness and community engagement, the minister urged media organisations to further highlight tree plantation and fuel-saving practices, noting that fuel conservation under the government’s austerity policy will also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. He called for a whole-of-society approach, asking communities, educational institutions, civil society groups and the private sector to actively join planting campaigns and conserve forest resources.
The announcement reinforces the government’s focus on nature-based solutions as Pakistan confronts growing climate vulnerabilities, with tree plantation central to plans for environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation and urban livability in the capital.
