Islamabad Boosts Climate Change Budget to Strengthen Green Pakistan Initiative

Islamabad Boosts Climate Change Budget to Address Environmental Crisis
In an essential move to combat the growing challenges of climate change, the Pakistani government has significantly increased the budget for its Ministry of Climate Change for the fiscal year 2024-25. The revised budget will see an infusion of Rs11.82 billion, raising the ministry’s development budget from Rs4 billion to a substantial Rs15.87 billion, according to sources disclosed on Friday.
A major portion of this budget, Rs15.62 billion, is allocated to the ambitious Green Pakistan initiative, which was initially launched in 2018 under the name Ten Billion Tree Tsunami. This initiative represents the country’s steadfast commitment to planting trees nationwide to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.
The overall cost of the Green Pakistan project is expected to surpass Rs125 billion. By the end of June 2024, the project’s cost is projected to reach Rs29.56 billion, with the expenses expected to escalate to over Rs45 billion in the following financial year.
The increase in funding is a clear indication of the government’s dedication to enhancing its efforts against climate change. In addition to the Green Pakistan initiative, the new budget will support four other projects under the Ministry of Climate Change, including a Rs100 million allocation for a capacity-building project within the ministry.
The Green Pakistan program, along with its earlier phase, the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami, is pivotal to the nation’s environmental strategy. These initiatives aim to reduce deforestation, promote biodiversity, and mitigate the impacts of climate change by expanding the country’s green cover. The increased budget is a strategic move to ensure the sustainability and further expansion of these crucial environmental projects.