Senator Marri Questions Tree Planting Numbers in Pakistan

The Climate Change Division's assertion of planting over two billion trees in Pakistan has raised doubts among officials, with Senator Qurat ul Ain Marri questioning the accuracy of the numbers. The senator highlighted the pressing climate crisis facing the nation and called for detailed district-wise data to validate the claims.

At a recent session of the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, it was disclosed that around 2.12 billion trees have been planted as part of the 'Green Pakistan Program'. The ministry has set a target of 3.29 billion trees for the future. Despite this ambitious goal, Senator Marri expressed skepticism, emphasizing the environmental hurdles Pakistan faces.

Discussions during the committee meeting also revolved around development proposals put forth by senators for their respective areas. These suggestions are slated for review by the Planning Division and Ministry of Finance under the PSDP program. Additionally, projects recommended by other senators will be directed to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue for further evaluation.

Delving into the details of the 'Nutrition Programme' outlined in the PSDP 2024-25, the committee explored plans for a 'Behavioural Change Campaign' in malnutrition-affected districts. The initiative includes curriculum revisions in collaboration with provinces to combat this issue. Senator Marri lauded the effort and proposed regular quarterly progress updates to monitor the program's effectiveness.

Senator Marri also raised objections to the inclusion of the 'Holding National Games' project in the upcoming PSDP, citing it as the sole non-developmental project listed. Officials from the Planning Division clarified that the project was rolled over from the previous year due to financial constraints.

The Senate Committee finalized recommendations for submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue. The meeting, attended by various senators and senior department officials, highlighted the ongoing efforts and challenges in Pakistan's development landscape.