Story | 28 Jan, 2019

Pakistan elected as Vice Chair of UN Environment’s Forum of Ministers & Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific

Advisor to Prime Minister on Climate Change Mr. Malik Amin Aslam along with Additional Secretary Mr. Babar Hayat Tarrar are representing Pakistan at the third session of UN Environment’s Forum of Ministers & Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific.

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Photo: IUCN Pakistan

Today Pakistan has been elected as the Vice Chair of this UN Environment Ministers Forum. Singapore, being the host country, is the chair of the UN Environment’s Forum. On this occasion Advisor to PM Amin Aslam said that this is an honor for Pakistan as 41 environment ministers of Asia Pacific, including China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand etc have chosen Pakistan to represent them.

Advisor to PM while talking at the panel said Pakistan is leading on climate actions to tackle the effects of Climate Change. He said that PM has launched a nationwide Clean Green Pakistan movement for protection of environment that involves a 10 Billion Tree plantation drive, Solid and Liquid Waste Management, Total Hygiene and Clean Drinking Water. Mr. Aslam also briefed about the 1 Billion Tree Tsunami project successfully completed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province last year, that got global recognition from World Economic Forum, IUCN and WWF. Mr. Aslam is also a regional IUCN Councillor.

The Forum discussions focused on UNEA-4 theme ‘Innovative solutions for environmental challenges and sustainable consumption and production’. It’s essentially aimed at a joint approach at the 4th UN Environment Assembly, scheduled in Kenya during March.

The Advisor also had a meeting with Mr. Siim Kiisler, President of UN Environment Assembly and Minister for Environment of Estonia on the sidelines of the Forum.

Besides, he also met President of Sri Lanka, Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, Minister for Environment of Singapore and Acting Executive Director of UN Environment to discuss cooperation for environment protection initiatives.

UN Environment has finally decided in principle to open an office in Pakistan, this demand was made by Pakistan and followed up consistently.