What is Green Pakistan Initiative (GPI)

Pakistan is facing an environmental crisis. This includes deforestation, land-degradation, water scarcity, air pollution, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. Pakistan’s forest cover is almost lost. Soil erosion, floods, droughts, landslides, and reduced agricultural productivity are common occurrences in the country. Climate change threatens food, water, health, and economic security in Pakistan. The government of Pakistan and the Pakistan army have joined hands to introduce the Green Pakistan Initiative to combat this environmental crisis. Here, we will discuss its projects and the path forward towards a greener and prosperous Pakistan.

Green Pakistan Initiative
GPI is an initiative of the federal government to combat climate change, desertification and deforestation. The GPI is a step for modernizing agricultural practices in Pakistan. It is an opportunity to corporatize agriculture for economic growth. Ministry of Climate Change Division implements this with a huge allocation of Rs 4050 million under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) in the 2023-24 budget. This initiative is aimed at strengthening forestry, agriculture and biodiversity through various projects.

GPI Objectives

Here are a few goals of GPI:

1. Enhance the forest cover of the country to combat climate change
2. Provide biodiversity conservation which helps in preserving existing plants and animals’ species
3. Agro Farms and corporate farming on 91 million acres of vacant government land
4. Youth Employment
5. Corporatize water resources
6. Switch country’s agriculture from imported fuels to other renewable energy resources
7. Constructing Carbon pools
8. Attracting foreign and private investments in the agriculture

GPI Projects
GPI was first launched in 2016 to improve forest cover and conservation of biodiversity.The highest percentage of waste land (uncultivated farmland that is fit for cultivation) is located in Balochistan (46.6 percent) followed by Sindh (19.5 percent), the Punjab (17.8 percent) and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (16 percent). The corporatization of culturable waste is a goal of GPI. GPI wants to mobilize investment into land development, irrigation systems and precision farming.
Corporatizing water resources like constructing private small dams, canal outlet storage, and demand supply mechanisms is another aim of GPI. It will create high efficiency irrigation schemes. GIS, remote sensing, and satellite imagery will provide topographic surveys. Research and development are important in the new farming model. New SMEs and entrepreneurship are needed. Once Pakistani agriculture becomes modernized, it will increase chances of foreign and private investments. This will also produce a lot of jobs for youth.

Pakistan’s First Green Agro Farms

Green Agro Farms are being made for modern farming techniques with eco-friendly practices. These farms aim at having crop diversification and water conservation. It will also include precision farming technologies to minimize environmental impact while maximizing productivity.
Renewable Energy in Agriculture

Pakistan has growing concerns over carbon emissions and imported fossil fuel dependency during agriculture practices. These initiatives will direct the country towards using renewable energy resources for farming. This seeks to capitalize on Pakistan’s abundant renewable energy potential like solar and wind power.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the Green Pakistan Initiative is a vital response to the country’s environmental challenges. By enhancing forest cover and promoting biodiversity, the GPI aims to combat climate change while driving economic growth and creating jobs for youth. Projects like Green Agro Farms and improved water resource management focus on sustainable practices. With strong government support, the initiative can transform Pakistan’s landscape and preserve its biodiversity. Moving forward, collective efforts and investments will be important for achieving a greener, more prosperous future for all.