Addis Ababa, April 25, 2024 (FBC) – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Green Legacy Initiative was launched in Sialkot City in attendance of Pakistani government officials, religious community, businessmen, academia students, civil society and media
The Green Legacy Initiative led tree planting was also graced by Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan, Jemal Beker and the Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Climate Change and Environmental Protection, Romina Khurshid Alam.
The initiative was co-organized by the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change and the University of Sialkot.
More than 200 plants of different indigenous species were planted under the “Ethio-Pakistan Fraternity Under Green Legacy” Initiative which was followed by a climate walk in the town which was participated by a large number of people.
Addressing the event, Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Jemal Beker said: “Today we gather here not only to save the planet earth but also to connect the two big and historic nations, the heirs of civilizations and protectors of the rule-based world order while fighting together the global challenges such as terrorism and climate change,” the Ambassador remarked.
“Climate change is an existential threat that will not spare any place or area on this planet earth if we did not come together to combat this challenge which is not a problem for only Pakistan or Ethiopia but the rest of the world,” Ambassador Jemal added.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) mobilized the whole nation under the Green Legacy initiative and so far, more than 32.5 billion seedlings planted across the country in the last five years which included the saplings of fruits like avocado, papaya, banana, oranges, olives and many others.
Ambassador Jemal extended gratitude to the Government and Romina Khurshid Alam in particular for her support to the Ethio-Pakistan relations under the Green Legacy Initiative and also thanked the leadership of University of Sialkot for co-organizing the tree planting session.
The Ambassador further reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to continue its support to Pakistan’s efforts in climate change mitigation and environmental protection.
Speaking on the occasion, Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination Romina Khurshid said she was delighted to make a formal announcement regarding the collaboration between the embassy of Ethiopia in Islamabad and the Ministry of Climate Change of Pakistan.
She said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had accorded the approval to formalize the collaboration at bilateral level between the two countries and assured of his government’s strong commitment in this regard.
In continuation, Ambassador Jemal Beker and representatives of business communities planted tree saplings today at the premises of Sundar Trade and Industrial Estate in Lahore town of Pakistan.