Government Initiative - Imran Khan Orders Establishment of 12 National Parks.

Byline: S. Kamal Hayder Kazmi

In the economic survey of Pakistan FY2019, the economists recorded that erratic weather patterns and climate change have emerged as the biggest environmental challenges that are affecting almost all the sectors of economy particularly water resources, energy, health, biodiversity with a major impact on agricultural productivity. In view of Pakistan's high vulnerability to the adverse impacts of climate change, the current government is committed to meet this challenge and the Prime Minister has constituted 'Prime Minister's Committee on Climate Change' to provide high level strategic guidance and platform for coordinated efforts on the issues of climate change.

Federal Forestry Board (FFB) has also been revived to rehabilitate forests and forest cover in the country. Ministry of Climate Change has adopted a comprehensive approach on the disaster risk reduction and management. The government has also introduced climate budget coding and expenditure tracking system. This initiative has become a solid conduit for the climate change finance mainstreaming and will foster transparency in public investments. The monitoring of the expenditure will also give confidence to the international development partners in tracking expenditure under different funding streams to ensure that the finances are spent on the intended objectives.

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Annual financial needs for safely managed wash services (Rs Million)

Urban Rural

S.No Description Water Sanitation Water Sanitation Total

1 New Services: Basic Access 13,968 12,797 8,595 28,543 63,883

2 New Services: Safely Managed 62,630 48,904 113,736 123,099 348,369

3 Sustaining existing services: Basic Access 16,635 11,100 11,110 20,735 59,580

4 Sustaining existing services: Safely Managed 36,229 11,100 33,461 20,735 101,525

6 Overall Financing Needs 98,849 60,004 147,197 143,834 449,894

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Presently, the 'Protected Area Initiative' aims to protect and preserve flora and fauna as part of incumbent government's 'Green Pakistan' program. Approving a 'Protected Area Initiative' that would focus on establishing 12 national parks in the entire Pakistan, Prime Minister claimed the plans would assist generate career opportunities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. During a meeting with Adviser to the P.M. on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam in Islamabad, PM said the parks would preserve and protect Pakistan's flora and fauna.

In addition to the job creation, PM said, Pakistan's natural...