The Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHAF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, has launched a large-scale tree plantation campaign called “Aik Beti Aik Shajar” at its housing project on Kurri Road in Islamabad. The initiative aims to promote environmental sustainability and address the widespread impacts of climate change in Pakistan.
The campaign was inaugurated with a ceremony chaired by Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, and formally launched by Minister of State for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Shezra Ali Khan Kharal, who planted the first saplings. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Shehbaz Sharif, issued special instructions for the campaign, and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has supplied 600 saplings for planting at the site.
In his remarks, Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada highlighted the critical importance of tree plantation in a country facing severe environmental challenges. He linked the recent flash floods and other natural disasters to the ongoing issue of deforestation and stressed that it is a national duty to both plant and protect trees. Pirzada praised the efforts of the PHAF team and called for the integration of similar plantation drives across all housing societies to ensure environmental sustainability becomes a core component of housing development.
Dr. Shezra Ali Khan Kharal emphasized that tree plantation is a vital step in strengthening the country’s resilience to disasters and maintaining ecological stability. She recounted her visits to flood-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where she witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of extreme weather events. Naming the campaign in honor of daughters and women, she noted their vulnerability to climate change and reiterated that plantation efforts are essential to mitigate these threats. Dr. Kharal also underlined the need for climate justice, pointing out that Pakistan contributes very little to global emissions yet faces severe consequences from climate change. She called for the urgent adoption of climate-resilient policies and sustainable living practices.
The “Aik Beti Aik Shajar” campaign represents a coordinated effort by government agencies to promote environmental consciousness and encourage collective action in combating climate change.
