Pakistan
Our ‘forest heroes’ saving Green Pakistan: PM
ISLAMABAD, Aug 21 (APP):Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday paid tribute to an employee of Forest Department, who had laid his life while saving the forests from fires.
He termed forester Jamshid Iqbal of Forest Department Chitral a “hero”, who embraced Shahadat in the line of duty while fighting a forest fire in Chumurkun-Gole Protected Forest Compartment No.01, on August 19.
“These are our heroes protecting our forests for a Green Pakistan,” the prime minister tweeted.
August marks the beginning of monsoon season in Pakistan, and with the rain comes another busy stretch for the country’s ambitious tree-planting programme.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, residents of all stripes, from government officials to Boy Scouts, fan out along the hills. They bring with them chinar tree saplings — which can grow to nearly 100 feet tall — along with other varieties, and they begin digging, the Washington Post said in its recent report.
The report mentions that it’s all part of an effort that started in 2015, when Imran Khan — then a provincial politician and now Pakistan’s prime minister — backed a programme ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’. The initiative reached its provincewide target in 2018 and was so successful that federal officials expanded the drive nationally in 2019 with a new goal of 10 billion trees — or, the “Ten Billion Tree Tsunami.”
“Everyone is waking up and starting to plant,” lawyer and environmentalist Hazrat Maaz told The Washington Post at the time.
The programme addresses Pakistan’s history of deforestation as the country confronts the realities of climate change in the form of hotter temperatures, melting Himalayan glaciers and intensifying monsoon rains.
“It makes us very vulnerable,” Malik Amin Aslam, federal minister for climate change, said in a recent phone call. He has overseen both the provincial and national planting campaigns. “The cheapest, most effective and quickest way to fight climate change is to plant trees,” he said.Direct planting, Aslam explained, accounts for about 40 percent of the program’s new trees. Hundreds of thousands of people across Pakistan are working to nurture and plant 21 species, from the Chir pine to the deodar — the national tree.
The other 60 percent come from assisted regeneration, in which community members are paid to protect existing forests so that trees can propagate and thrive. Protectors are known as “nighabaan,” and 11 individuals lost their lives fighting the “timber mafia” between 2016 and 2018, according to Aslam.Aslam says the initiative is engaging the next generation in the country’s battle against climate change.
Whether planted or protected, trees capture and hold carbon dioxide — a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change — and combat erosion on steep landscapes in Pakistan that Aslam says are “almost like living on a slide.”The latest tree “tsunami” appears to be on pace. The rate of new trees has gone up tenfold since the initiative began, Aslam said. He expects another 500 million trees by the end of this year, with a goal of around 3.2 billion by 2023. If the current ruling party is reelected, the aim is to hit 10 billion trees by 2028.“Young people get very excited when they hear about this,” he said. “It’s their future that we’re investing in.”
The saplings used for the project are not treated with insecticides in the nursery, and the forestry department will go on to monitor the young trees for three years after planting.
Pakistan has achieved another proud milestone in its space journey with the successful launch of the PRSE-EO2 satellite into orbit. This achievement reflects Pakistan’s growing strength in science, technology, and national capability, proving that the country is steadily advancing in modern space development.
The PRSE-EO2 satellite is designed to support Pakistan in multiple critical areas, including earth observation, mapping, environmental monitoring, and national development planning. With this satellite in space, Pakistan will be able to improve its ability to collect accurate data for agriculture, water management, urban planning, disaster monitoring, and climate-related challenges.
This success is a strong reminder that space technology is no longer a luxury—it is a necessity for nations that want to grow in the modern world. Satellites play an important role in helping countries manage their resources, respond to natural disasters, and strengthen national security through better monitoring and planning.
The successful launch of PRSE-EO2 also sends a positive message to Pakistan’s youth. It shows that Pakistan has the talent and potential to compete in advanced fields such as aerospace engineering, satellite technology, and artificial intelligence-driven systems. Such achievements inspire young minds to pursue careers in science and innovation, strengthening the country’s future.
Pakistan’s progress in space technology is not only a matter of national pride but also a strategic step toward long-term development. As the world becomes more data-driven, satellite-based information will be a powerful tool for smarter governance and faster progress.
The launch of PRSE-EO2 proves one clear reality: Pakistan is not standing still. Pakistan is moving forward. And with each successful mission, the nation strengthens its position as a country capable of innovation, modern research, and high-tech achievement.
This moment is a victory for Pakistan’s scientists, engineers, and institutions—and a hopeful sign for the future of a stronger, smarter, and more advanced Pakistan.
Providing a sense of security to deserving families in Islamabad during cold nights
Islamabad: With a determination not to leave deserving and disadvantaged families and individuals alone in the severe cold of Islamabad, the “Social Cooperation Initiative” in collaboration with the “Zakat Foundation of America” distributed “Winter Relief Packages” among poor families and needy individuals. The aim of this campaign is to protect poor families and needy individuals from the harshness of the weather and provide them with a sense of security.
1- 50 widowed women residing in Jinnah Garden were provided with cold protection equipment so that they could face the harshness of the weather.
2- 20 members of the neglected section of the society, the transgender community, were also provided with relief packages.
3- 20 homeless people living a miserable life under bridges were directly reached out and provided with essential relief items.
4- In addition, 20 women residents of the Social Protection Women’s Center (8-H) were distributed blankets and quilts.
The relief package included warm shawls, blankets, socks, gloves, hats, and warm hoodies for adults and children.
On this occasion, the leadership of the “Social Cooperation Initiative” thanked the “Zakat Foundation of America” and said: “The winter season is a very difficult time for disadvantaged families and needy individuals. Our goal is to ensure that no deserving person is deprived of assistance. This campaign is not just about distributing goods, but also a commitment to serving humanity and social inclusion.
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