Pursuing green economy pathways must for making country's economic growth sustainable: Mushahidullah

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan has said that it is imperative for climate change-vulnerable Pakistan to pursue a green economy that can put country on pathways to a sustainable development through environment-friendly use of the natural resources.

Senator Mushahid Ullah Khan expressed these views during his keynote address to the participants of a high-level event in the context of the International Mother Earth Day (IMED) held here on Wednesday at the Centre for Climate Research and Development (CCRD), COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (COMSATS IIT) organized by the CCRD, the event was attended, among others, climate scientists, researchers, academicians and students in a large number, said a press release.

"The inclusive green economy, in fact, focuses on innovative ways to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development. However, it can be achieved only by investing adequate amount of the GDP in ten key sectors of the economy- agriculture, forestry buildings, energy supply, fisheries and industry including energy efficiency, tourism, transport, waste management and water," the federal minister said.

On this occasion, the minister also planted a seedling to mark the earth day, saying that trees are must for protection of earth and sustainability of the life on it.

The Earth Day is marked on April 22 every across the world to highlight global call of unprecedented significance for the `sustainable and healthy survival of every kind of the life' on mother earth.

The federal minister said that he believes if green pathways were pursed by making the country's economy greener, then that could lead to greener, smarter growth while fighting poverty and ensuring judicious use of natural resources, which are at risk of complete depletion from increasing unsustainable use, particularly water and land resources, in almost all countries of the world including Pakistan.

"Putting Pakistan on green economy pathways will also help boost economic growth by many times and improve country's resilience against climate change-induced disasters, which have caused massive economic damages since the devastating 2010 flood and the floods in the following years till 2014," the minister highlighted.

Mushahid Ullah Khan being a highly vulnerable country to the devastating impacts of climate change, the present PML(N)-led government is aware of the significance of this day. "For this reason we are working to address the challenges that we face as a result of the changing climate system to ensure water, food and energy security for our people," he said.

He also said that the presence of students, faculty, researchers and other schools and universities at this event shows that interest in the environment is high, and we should nurture this further so that the young generation is put on the path to play their part for achieving sustainable development goals.

He also lauded the management of the COMSATS IIT for setting up the Centre for Climate Research and Development (CCRD) and urged them to generate adequate climate research for informed policy decisions for making country climate-resilient.