ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday welcomed the "Green Saudi Arabia" and "Green Middle East” initiatives of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, saying they complimented Pakistan’s own initiatives to battle climate change.

The crown prince called the leaders of Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Sudan to discuss a massive regional tree-planting project, Saudi state news agency (SPA) reported early on Monday.

The Saudi Green Initiative is part of the prince’s Vision 2030 plan to reduce its reliance on oil revenues and improve quality of life. The crown prince unveiled the ambitious campaign on Saturday that will see Saudi Arabia planting 10 billion trees in the coming decades and working with other Arab states to plant another 40 billion trees, reduce carbon emissions and combat pollution and land degradation.

“Am delighted to learn of 'Green Saudi Arabia' & 'Green Middle East' initiatives by my brother, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman!” Khan wrote on Twitter. “Have offered our support on these as there are many complementarities with our 'Clean & Green Pakistan' & '10 Billion-Tree Tsunami'."

Khan was referring to his government’s 10 Billion Tree Tsunami programme, an ambitious five-year tree-planting programme launched in 2018, with the aim of countering rising temperatures, flooding, droughts and other extreme weather in the country that scientists link to climate change.

In a letter to the crown prince, Khan said while Pakistan and Saudi Arabia already maintained close cooperation on climate change issues at multilateral forums, “a meaningful and structured bilateral engagement can help advance our shared vision and create mutually beneficial opportunities for partnership.”

He also said Pakistan would be happy to share its knowledge and experience of climate change initiatives with the kingdom.