ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday urged the world to fight back for ecosystem restoration during the next decade and urged the rich countries to assist the poor states in bearing the brunt of the former`s immense carbon emissions.

`Pakistan has minimal contribution in carbon emission. The rich countries responsible for huge carbon emission have the responsibility to at least provide funds so that the countries likeours may fight global warming and improve our environment.

The issue is resources gap,` he said while addressing the main ceremony of World Environment Day hosted by Pakistan.

Telecast globally, the event featured special messages of Chinese President Xi Jinping, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres and address by Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme IngerAnderson besides Minister of State Zartaj Gul and Special Assistant to the PM Amin Aslam.

Held at the beautifully adorned Convention Centre with themed green ambiance created by plants and decorations, the event was attended by the federal ministers, parliamentarians and diplomats from various countries.

A huge number of forest guards were also present who earned a huge applause from the audience as the prime minister acknowledged their efforts and sacrinces to preserve the environment.

Explaining resource constraints in the country, Mr Khan said during the pandemic Pakistan, with a population of 220 million, could scrape up only around $8 billion for a relief package while the US, with a population of 330m, doled out a package of $4,000bn to its people.

He reiterated that the resourcerich countries should support the developing countries which were fighting the `war of climate change` He said Pakistan was making efforts to further reduce its already minimal emissions by switching 30 per cent of its all vehicles to electric transmission and would ensure 60pc of its power generation through renewable resources by 2030.

He said it was an honour for Pakistan to host the World Environment Day which reflected the recognition of the country`s efforts (to combat global warming) and its inclusion among the few countries concerned for a better environment for next generations.

The prime minister urged the nation, particularly the youth, to take responsibility of the environmentfriendly initiatives and to play their role in the world`s fight for ecosystem restoration during the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030.

He said like the developing countries, teachers in Pakistan should cre-ate awareness about importance of trees to inculcate responsibility for environment conservation among the students.

He said that since Pakistan`s inception till launch of One Billion Tree Tsunami project in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2013, the country had plante d only 640 million trees. He said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government, after success of One Billion Tree Tsunami project, launched Ten Billion Tree Tsunami project and had planted first billion of the trees.

He lamented massive deforestation, particularly in Chhanga Manga, Kundian, Chichawatni and Dipalpur, where the land mafias had occupied the forest land.

He said the United Nations Decade was an opportunity for the world to correct its course by fighting back against pollution and ensure clean water and reduced carbon emissions.

He said apart from measures introduced by Pakistan, some issues needed the world`s attention, including reducing carbon emissions that lead to glacier melting which in turn poses threats to areas such as Pakistan and Central Asia where rivers were fed by glaciers.

Interdependent world Prime Minister Khan said Covid-19 pandemic had made it clear that the world was interdependent with nothing bound by borders. Same was the case with global warming which was equally impacting the world, he added.

The premier apprised the gathering of his government`s future initiatives, including Recharge Pakistanto divert floodwater to wetland for recharging water table and mangroves forestation which would also absorb carbon besides doing other functions for a healthy environment.

He repeatedly called for public participation in the environment projects to make the people stakeholders by giving them jobs and incentives, just like the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami which had provided 85,000 jobs so far.

The PM said the government had developed 15 nationalparks and special guards would be trained for their protection.

In his message read out by Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong, Chinese President Xi Jinping said ecosystem restoration was essential to live in harmony with nature. He called for international community`s role for sustainable development.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in his video message, spoke highly of Ten Billion Tree Tsunami project, saying: `I salute what Prime Minister Imran Khan is doing. I think 10 billion trees is a huge campaign.` He said the Covid-19 pandemic was mother nature`s revenge on humankind which could not maintain balance with nature.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in his video message, said the world was faced with a triple environmental emergency: biodiversity loss, climate disruption and escalating pollution.

He said the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration would help create millions of new jobs by 2030.-APP