Keeping environment clean, green unified responsibility

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior, Shehryar Khan Afridi on Wednesday said it was a unified responsibility to keep environment clean and avoid sufferings because of polluted environment.

Addressing a Clean and Green Islamabad campaign launching ceremony here at National University of Science and Technology (NUST), he said everyone was aware of losses, the environmental degradation was causing in the Capital, but unfortunately no one paid any heed to redressing environmental issues in past.

Shehryar Afridi said, "I feel proud our youth in educational institutions are giving a message that how we can get more benefits from Clean and Green Pakistan programme."

"We have to create awareness among the masses regarding environmental hazards. We need to pledge that every individual of family should plant a sapling at least once a month," he said.

He said provision of clean environment to people is not only a responsibility but also a religious obligation, adding that comprehensive, short, medium and long-term plans were being devised for making the Capital clean and rescuing its environment from degradation.

The Minister said, "We have to balance needs of development with nature conservation and provide opportunities for creation of green jobs. The number-one agenda of PTI government is to invest for humanity and we need to give dignity to every human. You, the young generation, should play role for better and prosperous Pakistan."

He said youth were future of the country and have all potential and abilities to compete at all levels in the world.

He said the youth, consisting around 60 per cent of total population of the country have been playing an important role to bring about a real change and contributed towards building "Naya Pakistan."

"We should promote peace in globe and respect each others norms, values and cultures. We need to fight against all those odds which affect humanity," he added.

"Let us join hands and convey a message of unity to the world that Pakistani youth are vibrant and peace-loving," he said and added that Pakistani youth have set good examples in the globe with their extreme talent.

It merits mentioned here NUST started Spring Tree Plantation-2019 at university's main campus in Islamabad.

Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to participate in environment-friendly campaign, wherein over 34,000 plants including 12,000 seed balls, are to be planted at earmarked area near NUST School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering (SMME).

Later, Shehryar Afridi launched the campaign by planting an Olive tree sapling in the university.