ISLAMABAD, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Climate change knows no borders, and from wildfires to flooding and fast-melting glaciers, Pakistan is facing its effects firsthand, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Wednesday in marking World Environment Day.
"The theme of this year's World Environment Day -- land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience -- reminds us of the humongous challenge that confronts us in terms of the billions of hectares of land that is being degraded, affecting almost half of the world's population and threatening half of global GDP," the prime minister was quoted as saying in a statement.
Pakistan stands firm in its resolve to combat environmental challenges and stands committed to contributing to global efforts towards sustainability, Sharif said.
Initiatives such as the Green Pakistan Program, Living Indus Initiative, and National Adaptation Plan underscore the South Asian country's commitment to reforestation and ecosystem restoration, tackling issues of deforestation and biodiversity loss head-on, he added.
On the occasion, "I encourage all our countrymen to join the global movement to restore our lands, build drought resilience and combat desertification and be part of #GenerationRestoration to ensure a better future for all," said the prime minister. ■