ISLAMABAD: The World Bank (WB) has approved $120 million for Prime Minister’s Green Stimulus Initiative, said the Ministry of Climate Change on Thursday.

The announcement came after WB country director Najy Benhassine met Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam on Thursday and conveyed the bank’s support to the green post-Covid-19 economic recovery initiative and afforestation and nature conservation programmes.

This particularly includes the green stimulus initiative launched by the climate change ministry under the prime minister’s vision for Clean Green Pakistan.

During the meeting, the WB country director informed the PM’s aide that funding of $120 million pledged for the green stimulus initiative had already been approved. It could be utilised by the country to boost green jobs for those rendered unemployed due to the pandemic by engaging them in green projects being implemented for conservation and protection of nature.

He said the WB management was impressed with the Clean Green Pakistan programme and various projects initiated under the vision, particularly the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme.

“Having been impressed with the marvelous green initiatives of the incumbent government, we at the World Bank are mulling over replication of Pakistan’s green initiatives in other countries,” Najy Benhassine said.

Explaining about the green stimulus initiative, the PM’s aide said the programme was launched in April last year for creation of green jobs for youth rendered jobless from various sectors due to closure of business and assorted economic activities due to the pandemic.

“The prime minister had also approved the green stimulus package in April this year as a part of the government’s efforts to extend green cover which has led to generation of 87, 000 green jobs for the youth,” Mr Aslam claimed.

He informed the delegation that another ambitious Protected Areas Initiative (PAI) had been launched under the umbrella programme ‘Green Pakistan’. It aimed at the conservation and promotion of nature-based solutions and creation of additional 5,000 green jobs for community members in the protected areas.

“The PAI primarily aims to enhance protected areas cover from 13 per cent to 15 per cent by 2023 and create 5, 000 green jobs across the country,” he added.

Meanwhile, both sides also vowed to collaborate towards tackling aftermaths of the global health crisis of the Covid-19 pandemic and global warming on various socioeconomic sectors.

“It’s inspiring that despite limited financial resources, Pakistan launched a green stimulus initiative, which has led to creation of thousands of green jobs for those rendered unemployed due to pandemic,” the WB head remarked.

He said his organisation would utilise financial, technological and knowledge resources to support Pakistan through its resources and experiences in the overall post Covid-19 green recovery through enhanced investment in green sectors, including forestry, environmental protection and climate change resilience through mitigation and adaptation initiatives in the country’s climate vulnerable socio economic sectors.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2021