Afforestation initiative takes 98% of climate change ministry budget

Afforestation initiative has taken 98% of the climate change ministry budget. As the federal government promulgated budget for coming fiscal, the ministry of climate change noted that because of huge funds allocated for afforestation, two new problems have taken birth.

Afforestation initiative takes 98% of climate change ministry budget

Afforestation initiative has taken 98% of the climate change ministry budget. As the federal government promulgated budget for coming fiscal, the ministry of climate change noted that because of huge funds allocated for afforestation, two new problems have taken birth. Firstly, it is seen that funding has cut by 34%. Secondly, there is zero balance left for new initiatives.

Budgetary allocations for the ministry tasked with helping the country check planet-warming emissions and adapt to climate shifts came down from Rs. 7.579 billion in 2019-20 to Rs. 5 billion in 2020-21. All that money is supposed to be utilized on the ongoing projects only.

Some officials insisted so, as the present government is determined on the completion of the ongoing schemes due to the economic crisis arisen due to COVID-19, nothing has been allotted for new climate change initiatives in the budget.

However, they say that the unavailability of funds will cause the ministry struggle in dealing with the complex environmental problems facing the country these include melting glaciers, rising sea levels, desertification, changing monsoon patterns and seasonal flooding.

The Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) documents show of the climate change ministry’s funding for the next financial year, the lion’s share which is approximately 98%, the actual figure is. Rs. 4.9 billion which will go to the tree-planting programme, which the PM Imran Khan had initiated in late 2018.

The PM’s 10 Billion Trees Tsunami Programme – Phase-I Upscaling of Green Pakistan Programme (Revised) is intended to tackle with the rising temperatures, alarming floods and droughts in Pakistan.

The leftovers offered to other ongoing projects include Rs. 38.788 million for the Climate Resilient Urban Human Settlements Unit, Rs. 23.204 million for the establishment of the Climate Change Reporting Unit in the ministry.

While Rs. 20.423 million for the Sustainable Land Management Programme meant to combat desertification and Rs. 12 million for the establishment of Pakistan WASH

Strategic Planning and Coordination Cell to facilitate the meeting of SDGs 6.1 and 6.2 targets, and Rs. 5.585 million for the establishment of the Geomatic Centre for Climate Change AND Sustainable Development.