News Desk |
Today Pakistan is ranked in one of the top ten countries most affected by climate change. Being a predominantly agriculture economy, climate change is estimated to decrease crop productivity which in turn affect farmer’s livelihood and food production.
Climate change is also likely to have wide-ranging effects on human health in the form of increase heatwaves along with, an increase in vector-borne diseases including malaria and dengue. Hence, there is a growing consensus amongst the thought leaders of Pakistan that climate change poses a huge threat to Pakistan and we must act else, there will be significant consequences.
This campaign also includes plantation of 50,000 trees across various sites. Under Nestle Pakistan’s “Caring for Water” initiative; access to clean drinking water is provided to 60,000 people.
The problems the world faces today can only be addressed through collective action. Organizations can no longer afford to work in silos whether it is the private sector, or the government, NGOs, think-tanks etc. Public-private partnership (PPP) can address key development challenges in the growing world over and have the potential to accelerate progress towards the global aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Building on the success of the billion tree tsunami initiative, the current government came up with the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami initiative along with a kicking-off a behavior change movement: Clean and Green Pakistan. To ensure the success of this campaign at a national level, it is imperative that the private sector comes onboard as partners.
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PPPs (Public-Private Partnerships) are instrumental in helping achieving the development agenda for Pakistan. Nestlé Pakistan is one of the first food and beverage manufacturing company that has signed an MOU with the Ministry of Climate Change to contribute towards the Prime Minister’s vision of “Clean Green Pakistan”.
This partnership between Nestlé Pakistan and Ministry of Climate Change is part of Nestlé’s commitment of safeguarding the environment, including the global commitment of using 100% recyclable or reusable packaging for all our products by 2025; preserve natural capital, including forest cover; and reduce food loss and waste. Through this initiative, Nestlé Pakistan will be partnering with the key components of this movement by launching an awareness campaign on hygiene as part of its Nestlé Healthy Kids Program and Healthy Women initiative.
Hammad Naqi CEO, WWF, also added, “We are fortunate to have a Green party headed by a Prime Minister who is committed to addressing the climate change challenges faced by Pakistan.
As part of Nestlé Pakistan’s Employee Volunteer Program (EVP), a cleanliness drive will be launched which will include cleaning of public spaces across major cities of Pakistan. This campaign also includes plantation of 50,000 trees across various sites. Under Nestle Pakistan’s “Caring for Water” initiative; access to clean drinking water is provided to 60,000 people.
Planting 50,000 trees across sites is a comprehensive program which includes engaging with local and provincial authorities to meet this commitment. In Punjab, this initiative is being rolled out in partnership with Forestry Department and Punjab Horticulture Department. In Sindh, this activity is being conducted out in partnership with Port Qasim Authority. Tree plantation in Islamabad is being carried out in partnership with MCI (Metropolitan Corporation of Islamabad).
The first activity under this partnership was held at Jallo Park, Lahore where the Advisor to PM on Climate Change and Additional Secretary Babur Hayat Tarar participated as Chief guests. This event included a tree plantation activity along with a cleanup of the park as part of Nestlé Pakistan’s employee volunteer program. During the event, the Advisor to PM, Malik Amin Aslam added. “Clean green Pakistan is a movement which encourages the citizens of Pakistan to rethink about our relationship with Nature. Nature has always given and provided for us, however now it’s time we give back to nature and care for it”.
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Whilst welcoming the remarks of Malik Amin Aslam, Waqar Ahmad Head of Corporate Affairs added, “Nestle Pakistan as part of its global and local commitment is striving towards zero environment impact of its operations. Our partnership with Clean Green Pakistan is aligned with our commitment of attaining the SDGs including Clean Water Sanitation and Life on land”.
Hammad Naqi CEO, WWF, also added, “We are fortunate to have a Green party headed by a Prime Minister who is committed to addressing the climate change challenges faced by Pakistan. We must conserve our natural resources and Nestlé Pakistan must play a leadership role in this regard”.
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Nestlé’s partnership with the Clean Green Pakistan movement is reflects the commitment of the company to be a responsible corporate. Other corporates including Reckitt Benckiser, Askari Bank have also come on board as partners of the Clean and Green Movement. This is the only way forward by coming together and acting collectively we can mitigate the risks of climate change.