ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has formally launched the Billion Tree Honey Initiative to promote tree plantation and honey production in the country under the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme (TBTTP).
Addressing the launching ceremony on Monday, the PM said that TBTTP will help control environmental degradation, including enhancing forest cover, cleaning rivers and protecting groundwater from pollution, and checking air pollution. He said that it is the responsibility of his government to hand over a clean Pakistan to younger generations.
The PM said that the Billion Tree Honey Initiative will also help enhance exports and create job opportunities for the youth. He said that this initiative will benefit the local population of areas where these forests will be grown.
Imran Khan said that Pakistan has great potential to grow olive and avocado trees. “Through olive plantation, we can be able to export olive oil and avoid import of edible oil.”
Earlier, Minister of State for Climate Change Zartaj Gul said that TBTTP created around 84,000 jobs in the country while its scope will be enhanced in the coming days.
The state minister said that efforts are being made to ensure effective monitoring, reporting and verification of the programme at all levels.
Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said that the Billion Tree Honey programme will help enhance the country’s potential to produce 70,000 metric tonnes of honey in a year.
He said that under the programme, bee keepers will be trained and through proper branding and ensuring quality certification, the value of the country’s honey will be increased in the international market.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed among various organisations to promote bee-keeping and tree plantation in the country.
