# Plant for Pakistan

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Environmental protection campaign in Pakistan

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This article is part of a series about Imran Khan Personal Early life Electoral history Family Awards and honours Pakistan: A Personal History Indus Journey: A Personal View of Pakistan Pets Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital Namal College Cricket career 1992 Cricket World Cup final International cricket five-wicket hauls Premiership Government Oath of office First 100 days International trips Ehsaas Programme Plant for Pakistan Raast Roshan Digital Account Naya Pakistan Housing & Development Authority Laws Pakistan Army Act, 2020 Pakistan Navy Act, 2020 Pakistan Airforce Act, 2020 COVID-19 pandemic Pakistani economic crisis (2021–2024) No-confidence motion Constitutional crisis Lettergate Post-premiership Trials Al-Qadir Trust case Toshakhana reference cases Iddat case Protests 2022–2023 Pakistan political unrest 2022 Azadi March I 2022 Azadi March II 2023 Pakistani protests May 9 riots Assassination attempt Arrest Imprisonment Elections 1997 2002 2013 2018 Politics Political positions Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf 2014 Tsunami March Inqilab March Ihtisab March 2024 Islamabad protests PTI–government negotiations v t e

**Plant for Pakistan** (Plant4Pakistan), also known as **10 Billion Tree Tsunami,** was a five-year project to plant 10 billion trees across Pakistan from 2018 to 2023.[1] Prime Minister [Imran Khan](/source/Imran_Khan) started the drive on 2 September 2018 with approximately 1.5 million trees planted on the first day.[2] The campaign was based on the successful [Billion Tree Tsunami](/source/Billion_Tree_Tsunami) campaign of the former [Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf](/source/Pakistan_Tehreek-e-Insaf) government, also led by Imran Khan, in the province of [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa](/source/Khyber_Pakhtunkhwa) in 2014.[3] This different initiative is often confused with the initiative of the Prime Minister [Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif](/source/Nawaz_Sharif) who launched a national campaign of Green Pakistan and also allocated budget funding from the PSDP.

In 2020, the program tripled its number of workers to 63,600 after being momentarily halted following the [COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Pakistan), aiming to enlist those left unemployed by its economic consequences.[4]

Most of the work, which paid between 500 and 800 rupees (US$3–5) a day, took place in rural areas, with people setting up nurseries, planting saplings, and serving as [forest protection](/source/Forest_protection) guards. The plan was awarded 7.5 billion rupees ($46m) in funding.[5] Saplings planted during the initiative included mulberry, acacia, moringa and other indigenous species.

## History

The [Billion Tree Tsunami](/source/Billion_Tree_Tsunami) was a massive afforestation initiative launched by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in Pakistan in 2014. The project aimed to plant one billion trees on 35,000 hectares of degraded forest and barren land. Its success quickly gained international recognition, with organizations like the Bonn Challenge, the World Bank, and the IUCN praising its environmental impact.

Inspired by the original project, Prime Minister Imran Khan initiated a similar, larger-scale effort, the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami, in 2018. This initiative sought to reforest one million hectares across Pakistan. The project has garnered significant global attention and has inspired similar efforts in other countries. While progress has been substantial, with over one billion trees planted in the initial years, the ambitious goal of planting nine billion more within the remaining timeframe presents a significant challenge. However, given the international support and domestic momentum behind the project, it is anticipated that the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami will be successfully completed.

## Global warming in Pakistan

While Pakistan's [economy](/source/Economy) is 135th in terms of [greenhouse gas](/source/Greenhouse_gas) emissions, it is among the top ten countries in the world to be affected by [global warming](/source/Global_warming) according to the annual report of [Global Climate Risk Index](/source/Climate_Change_Performance_Index) of German Watch, which ranks Pakistan as eighth among the countries most at risk of climate change.[6] As of November 2021, Lahore is the number one in the world in terms of [air pollution](/source/Air_pollution).[7][8][9] Major cities have experienced major heat waves and high levels of pollution in the 21st century, including [Karachi](/source/Karachi)[10] and [Islamabad](/source/Islamabad).[11]

Pakistan has a wide variety of [ecosystems](/source/Ecosystem) within its borders, including the [Arabian sea](/source/Arabian_Sea), several [deserts](/source/List_of_deserts_of_Pakistan) and major [rivers](/source/List_of_rivers_of_Pakistan), and more than seven thousand [glaciers](/source/List_of_glaciers_of_Pakistan).[12] Pakistan is also at the confluence of three great mountain ranges; the [Hindu Kush](/source/Hindu_Kush), the [Himalayas](/source/Himalayas) and the [Karakoram](/source/Karakoram). Areas such as [Sindh province](/source/Sindh) are at increased risk of flooding due to the melting of glaciers and the eruption of glacial lakes, while also being at risk of drought due to an increasingly warm [dry season](/source/Dry_season). Threats such as [hurricanes](/source/Hurricane) also pose an increasing threat to open populations.[12]

## The 'Safe Areas' system

Apart from tree planting, the [Government of Pakistan](/source/Government_of_Pakistan) had also taken other eco-friendly measures, including increasing the number of [protected areas](/source/Protected_areas_of_Pakistan); as of December 2022, there were currently 398 wildlife conservation areas in Pakistan. Of these, 31 had [national park](/source/National_park) status. The total protected land area represented 13% of Pakistan's landmass as of 2020, with the government of Pakistan announcing plans to increase this amount to 15% by 2023.

A National Park Academy had been planned for [Ziarat](/source/Ziarat) and [Balochistan](/source/Balochistan%2C_Pakistan) national parks, where young people would be given jobs after special training, with plans to give at least 5,000 young people employment.[13]

## Other Green Projects

### Green energy

The government had immediately abandoned 2600 MW coal burning projects and focused on new 3700 MW [hydropower](/source/Hydropower) projects instead. Such power projects should be given priority in the country now. There were no [oil](/source/Oil) or [coal](/source/Coal) burning in them. "Efforts were being made to generate [electricity](/source/Electricity) using [solar](/source/Solar_power), [water](/source/Water_power) and [wind energy](/source/Wind_energy). Currently, more than a third of Pakistan's electricity came from projects where no oil or coal was burned. Efforts were being made to generate two-thirds of the electricity in the same decade without burning oil or coal."

### Electric Vehicles

Main article: [Electric vehicles in Pakistan](/source/Electric_vehicles_in_Pakistan)

Another eco-friendly project of the government was the promotion of [electric vehicles](/source/Electric_vehicle). [Smoke](/source/Smoke) from vehicles was a major cause of [urban pollution](/source/Urban_pollution). To address this, the government announced a new policy to promote the use of electric vehicles. Under this policy, duties and taxes on electric vehicles were made nominal. Significant progress was being made in this regard. German car company [BMW](/source/BMW) set up its charging station at [Kohsar Market](/source/Kohsar_Market) in Islamabad. PSO was also going to build another charging station in Jinnah Supermarket. In Karachi, three charging stations were planned in partnership with [Shell](/source/Royal_Dutch_Shell) and [Karachi Electric](/source/Karachi_Electric), which would be installed in Defense, Gulshan and Gadap areas. At present, at least half a dozen companies in the country were installing assembly plants for electric vehicles, which would reduce the cost of these vehicles even more than the current petrol-powered vehicles. The government hoped that by the end of this decade, the share of e-vehicles would reach 30% and 90% by 2030 and 2040 respectively. The first locally produced e-bike was launched along with 6 other models on 8 July 2021.

### Green diplomacy

The Billion Tree Tsunami had not only had a significant environmental impact but had also served as a powerful tool for diplomacy. The initiative's success led to international recognition and cooperation. For instance, Saudi Arabia, after launching its own Billion Tree project, invited Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit and strengthen bilateral relations. Additionally, the United States, recognizing Pakistan's environmental leadership, invited the country to participate in a climate summit.[14]

The global impact of the Billion Tree Tsunami was substantial, with other nations like the [UK](/source/UK) and [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) initiating similar projects[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]. This initiative solidified Pakistan's reputation as an important player in environmental conservation.

## See also

- [Billion Tree Tsunami](/source/Billion_Tree_Tsunami), a [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa](/source/Khyber_Pakhtunkhwa), Pakistan reforestation project

- [Trillion Tree Campaign](/source/Trillion_Tree_Campaign), a [UNEP](/source/UNEP) call to plant 1 trillion (1,000,000,000,000 or 10,00,00,00,00,000) trees.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Gul, Ayaz. ["Pakistan to Plant '10 Billion Trees'"](https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-incoming-government-to-plant-10-billion-trees-/4516212.html). *VOA*. Retrieved 15 September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["'Plant for Pakistan' campaign kicks off across the country | The Express Tribune"](https://tribune.com.pk/story/1793014/1-plant-pakistan-drive-kicks-off-tomorrow/). *The Express Tribune*. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Pakistan has planted over a billion trees"](https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/07/pakistan-s-billion-tree-tsunami-is-astonishing/). *World Economic Forum*. Retrieved 15 September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Pakistan Hires Thousands of Newly-Unemployed Laborers for Ambitious 10 Billion Tree-Planting Initiative"](https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/pakistan-hires-laborers-for-planting-10-billion-tree/). *Good News Network*. thegoodnewsnetwork. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Pakistan's virus-idled workers hired to plant trees"](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/pakistan-virus-idled-workers-hired-plant-trees-200429070109237.html). *www.aljazeera.com*. Retrieved 30 April 2020..

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Eckstein, David, et al. ["Global climate risk index 2020."](https://www.germanwatch.org/sites/germanwatch.org/files/20-2-01e%20Global%20Climate%20Risk%20Index%202020_16.pdf) (PDF) *Germanwatch* (2019).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Lahore Air Quality Index (AQI) and Pakistan Air Pollution | AirVisual"](https://www.iqair.com/pakistan/punjab/lahore).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Pakistan: 'Find a solution,' say Lahore residents choking in smog"](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/17/pakistan-lahore-smog-air-pollution-aqi-health). *www.aljazeera.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Hazy Lahore declared most polluted city in the world"](https://www.dawn.com/news/1655402). 2 November 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-bloomberg_10-0)** Haider, Kamran; Anis, Khurrum (24 June 2015). ["Heat Wave Death Toll Rises to 2,000 in Pakistan's Financial Hub"](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-24/heat-wave-death-toll-rises-to-2-000-in-pakistan-s-financial-hub). Bloomberg News. Retrieved 3 August 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Kamal, Shahid (2 April 2018). ["Quality of air in Islamabad declining"](https://www.dawn.com/news/1399014). *[Dawn](/source/Dawn_(newspaper))*. Retrieved 2 August 2022.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_12-1) Craig, Tim (12 August 2016). ["Pakistan has more glaciers than almost anywhere on Earth. But they are at risk"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistan-has-more-glaciers-than-almost-anywhere-on-earth-but-they-are-at-risk/2016/08/11/7a6b4cd4-4882-11e6-8dac-0c6e4accc5b1_story.html). *Washington Post*. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0190-8286](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0190-8286). Retrieved 4 September 2020. With 7,253 known glaciers, including 543 in the Chitral Valley, there is more glacial ice in Pakistan than anywhere on Earth outside the polar regions, according to various studies.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["ماحولیات کا عالمی دن: وزیراعظم عمران خان کا '10 بلین ٹری سونامی منصوبہ، پاکستان کے ماحول دوست اقدامات کا عالمی سطح پر اعتراف"](https://www.bbc.com/urdu/pakistan-57340275). *BBC Urdu*. 3 June 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["ماحولیاتی سمٹ: امریکی صدر جو بائیڈن کی 40 عالمی رہنماؤں کو شرکت کی دعوت، پاکستان کا نام شامل نہیں"](https://www.bbc.com/urdu/world-56547975). *BBC Urdu*. 27 March 2021.

v t e Imran Khan Prime Minister of Pakistan (2018–2022) Chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (1996–2023) Member of Parliament (2002–2007; 2013–2023) Life and politics Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf 2014 Tsunami March Go Nawaz Go Inqilab March Ihtisab March 2018 Pakistani general election 2022 Azadi march 2022 Azadi March-II Attempted assassination Al-Qadir Trust case Arrest Imprisonment Premiership Oath of office First 100 days Ministry International trips 2019 India–Pakistan border skirmishes Ehsaas Programme Kamyab Jawan Program Plant for Pakistan COVID-19 pandemic 2022 Pakistani political crises No-confidence motion Constitutional crisis Lettergate Cricket career 1992 Cricket World Cup International cricket five-wicket hauls Trials Al-Qadir Trust case Toshakhana reference case Iddat case Family Jemima Goldsmith (first wife, divorced) Reham Khan (second wife, divorced) Bushra Bibi (third wife, current) Ahmed Raza (uncle) Jahangir Khan (uncle) Humayun Zaman (uncle) Khaled Ahmed (cousin) Babar Zaman (cousin) Majid Khan (cousin) Asad Jahangir (cousin) Ijaz Khan (cousin) Bilal Omer Khan (cousin) Hafeez Ullah Niazi (cousin) Inamullah Niazi (cousin) Najeebullah Khan Niazi (cousin) Jamshed Burki (cousin) Javed Burki (cousin) Sanaullah Khan Niazi (cousin) Amin Ullah Khan (cousin) Zahid Ali Akbar Khan (cousin) Sherandaz Khan (cousin) Bazid Khan (nephew) Kamran Khan (nephew) Residences Bani Gala Zaman Park Bibliography Indus Journey: A Personal View of Pakistan Pakistan: A Personal History Philanthropy Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre Namal University Memorials Imran Khan Cricket Stadium Related Pets Awards and honours Category:Imran Khan

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Plant for Pakistan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_for_Pakistan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_for_Pakistan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.