Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Gandapur, addressed the International Climate Change Conference “Breathe Pakistan.”
- The forest area in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa constitutes 37% of the total area, which amounts to 37,000 square kilometers. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa holds 40 to 45% of the country’s total forests. The forests of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are absorbing 50% of the country’s carbon.
- According to research by international organizations, an annual budget of 322 billion rupees is required to protect forests covering such a vast area. Our leader, Imran Khan, has been a vocal advocate for climate change not only nationally but also internationally. Since 2017, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has spent 675 billion rupees on forest promotion.
- We are investing this substantial amount for the sake of the country’s forest conservation and promotion. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has increased its forest area to 26% of the total area, which exceeds international standards. Beneath the forest area of the province lies immense potential for minerals and agriculture.
- If utilized on a commercial basis, the province could generate an annual revenue of 215 billion rupees. However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is sacrificing these significant resources for the sake of the country. The annual value of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s carbon credits is approximately 100 billion rupees.
- For forest promotion, following the models of neighboring countries India and China, a share of the NFC (National Finance Commission) should be allocated based on forest area and carbon credits. In India, 10% of the NFC share is allocated for forest area.
- Over 175,000 green jobs have been created in the province. BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) is an environmentally friendly project of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. So far, approximately 7.5 crore people have traveled using BRT.
- BRT is not only a standard urban transport project but also plays a significant role in reducing environmental pollution. Over the past four years, BRT has eliminated 124,000 tons of Carbon.
- We have designated our annual budget as a Green Budget. This budget includes 20 billion rupees allocated for providing free solar systems to deserving households in the province. Additionally, a 20 billion rupee project has been initiated to provide solar systems to people at half the price.
- This year, 661 government schools, 183 colleges, and 628 mosques in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been transitioned to solar energy. During our tenure, we aim to transition all educational institutions, medical centers, and other government buildings to solar energy.
- We have launched several projects to bring barren land under cultivation and to better utilize water resources. The construction of the CRBC (Chashma Right Bank Canal) project will bring 300,000 acres of barren land under cultivation. The Mohmand Dam Canal is a 5 billion rupee project that will irrigate over 200,000 acres of land. We have completed four small dam projects that will irrigate 50,000 acres of land.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has grafted 170,000 wild olive plants to increase edible oil production. In the coming years, the target is to graft 1 million wild olive plants.
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the first province to provide free healthcare facilities to 100% of its population. Under the Health Card Program, free healthcare facilities are being provided to 13 million families. 25% of the Health Card budget is being spent on treating heart-related diseases. A state-of-the-art 250-bed Peshawar Institute of Cardiology has been established.
Ali Ameen said in his address, “I am grateful to international organizations for their support in various welfare projects. The provincial government needs the cooperation of international organizations for the implementation of the Billion Tree Plus Project and other green projects. Climate change is a challenge not only for Pakistan but for the entire world, and it requires collective efforts to address it. In Sha Allah, together, we will succeed in making Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a truly green province.”
Also read: KP Leads the Way in Climate Action and Forest Conservation, Says Gandapur
