Pakistan to get additional WB funds for National Forest Policy

Pakistan is expected to get additional funds from the World Bank to implement the National Forest Policy, recently approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI). Officials of the Ministry of Climate Change told this to the Sub-Committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) during a briefing on Friday. The meeting was held to review audit paras of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Division and Ministry of Climate Change.
The officials stated that a total Rs 4 billion have been allocated for the implementation of the policy and out of the amount the federal government will share Rs 2 billion, while all the federating units will share Rs 2 billion.
The committee met under the chairmanship of Sardar Ashiq Hussain Gopang. The committee was informed that Pakistan has secured $3.8 million readiness fund of Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) to combat climate change and tropical deforestation after a tough competition at Geneva, Switzerland. The FCPF is the World Bank administered facility that is set up to compensate developing countries for reduction in carbon dioxide emissions achieved by preserving their forests.
The federal government on the directives of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has earmarked Rs 2 billion in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for Green Pakistan Programme, under which 100 million new trees would be planted.
Replying to a question, the officials said that not only formal consent but also 50 per cent financial share of provincial governments is prerequisite for formulation and processing of an umbrella project for accessing the funds allocated for the program in the federal PSDP, said an official.
According to officials, Pakistan ranked 135th amongst countries contributing to global warming and 7th amongst countries most vulnerable to adverse impacts of climate change. The Ministry of Climate Change has developed a comprehensive strategy to address climate change which identifies policy approaches and implementation pathways for both adaptation and mitigation. The officials said that the ministry has also submitted draft legislation on Pakistan Climate Change Act (PCCA, 2016). It envisages the establishment of Pakistan Climate Authority, Pakistan Climate Change Council and Pakistan Climate Change Fund, he added.
Eight countries, including Pakistan, have been selected for the FCPF fund after Norway pledged $100 million for the fund. The countries selected for the fund include Pakistan, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cote d'lvoire, Fiji, Dominican Republic, Nigeria, and Togo. The total allocation of the readiness grant stands at $30.4 million.
The environment experts believe that the funding will help Pakistan preserve its fast degrading forests, besides improving forest cover. Pakistan has forests on 4.4 million hectares, while current rate of deforestation of natural forests is 27,000 hectares per year.
The officials of Climate Change Ministry told the committee, "The Ministry of Climate Change has prepared a new forest policy in consultation with provinces that includes forestry, wildlife, biodiversity, water and other important components." They said, "The budget allocated for the projects under climate ministry is Rs 4 billion, and more funds are expected from the World Bank."
The committee also reviewed objections on Economic Affairs Division and directed the relevant officials to ensure financial accountability in all departments in a transparent manner.