ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s embassy in Riyadh said on Tuesday it recently organized a plantation drive in Saudi Arabia’s Thadiq Park, where over 100 saplings were planted by the embassy’s officers, staff and their families to bolster the Kingdom’s efforts to protect its environment.
The plantation drive, led by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq, was organized on Mar. 7 in collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development. Students from the Pakistan International School, Riyadh (PISR) and Pakistan International School English Section (PISES) also participated in the drive.
Thadiq Park, situated 118 km away from Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, is a restoration site. The Kingdom has taken massive strides in adopting environment-friendly measures. Through its Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), a regional effort to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region, and the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) which aims to reduce emissions, increase afforestation, the Kingdom has taken concrete steps to protect its land and sea environment.
“The Embassy contingent comprising of officers, staff, and their families, ventured beyond its premises to Thadiq Park, situated some 118 km away from Riyadh, and planted more than 100 saplings in the arid expanse,” a press release by the Pakistani embassy in Riyadh said.
The embassy said its endeavor not only underscores Pakistan’s “unwavering commitment” to environmental preservation but also testifies to Pakistan’s solidarity with the SGI and MGI initiatives, spearheaded by the Kingdom.
“Pakistan, recognizing the imperative of collective action in addressing environmental challenges, stands in solidarity with its Saudi counterparts in championing sustainable practices and fostering green technologies,” it said.
“The Embassy’s plantation drive serves as a testament to this shared ethos, reinforcing the bonds of friendship and collaboration that unite the two nations.”
Pakistan produces less than one percent of the world’s carbon footprint but, according to the Global Climate Risk Index, has lost nearly ten thousand lives and suffered economic losses worth $3.8 billion due to climate change throughout the years 1999 to 2018. It has also been ranked by the index consistently as one of the top ten countries in the world worst-affected by climate change.
In 2022, torrential monsoon rains triggered the most devastating floods in Pakistan’s history, killing around 1,700 people. Over 33 million people were affected by the floodwaters — a staggering number close to the population of Canada. Millions of homes, tens of thousands of schools as well as thousands of kilometers of roads and railways still need to be rebuilt.