Federal Minister for Climate Change, Senator Dr. Mussadik Malik, Addresses the Leaders in Islamabad Business Summit In his keynote address at the Leaders in Islamabad Business Summit, the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environment, Senator Dr. Mussadik Malik, highlighted key points on the importance of environmental sustainability and climate change. Dr. Mussadik Malik shared his personal journey into environmental awareness, stating, “I am new to environmentalism, and when my secretary asked how I was feeling, I said, ‘Very Green.’” He went on to reflect on his childhood memories, saying, “For me, the environment is like the fireflies we used to catch in childhood, bottle them up, and watch them glow in the dark. When someone would say, ‘The fireflies will die in that bottle,’ we would quickly set them free.” The Minister further added, “In Lahore’s parks, we used to catch butterflies and release them after a while—this is what the environment means to me.” He emphasized his connection with nature, recalling the times when his friends and he would visit rivers and jump into the canals, believing the water to be clean and transparent. “People drank from that same water, threw watermelons in it, and ate them afterward. This is the environment I grew up with.” Dr. Mussadik Malik also shared his experiences upon arriving in Islamabad, saying, “When we came to Islamabad, all we saw were trees on the Margalla Hills. That’s what the environment is for me.” Addressing the challenges of environmental concerns in remote and mountainous regions, the Minister stated, “While we talk about the environment, we often overlook the struggles of people in far-flung and mountainous areas, who endure the effects of floods, rains, and food insecurity. We must understand their resilience and how they combat the changing seasons.” The Minister raised concerns about the current state of urban and rural environments, asking, “Why are there no parrots on trees anymore? Where have the nightingales gone? Why can’t people lie on their charpoys outside their homes and gaze at the shining stars and the moon?” He emphasized that it is crucial for us to reconnect with and restore our natural environment, urging, “We must bring back our childhood, our colors, our joy, our flowers, and our music.” Dr. Mussadik Malik reiterated that for him, this is the essence of the environment, and he called for immediate actions to restore it. The Minister highlighted the example of Finland, saying, “Despite being based on a forest economy, Finland has set the highest standards in environmental management. At one point, Finland was the world’s largest exporter of environmental technology, and through technology, it established environmental standards that were globally recognized.” He further emphasized, “Without adequate financial resources, we will not be able to make the necessary environmental changes. Tariffs are not conducive to the global economy. We welcome the Green Deal and Green Financing, and we look forward to collaborating with our partners.” Concluding his address, Dr. Mussadik Malik stated, “Making the world greener is not a hindrance. We should not return to the 1980s. Instead, we must focus on science, evidence, and policies that can restore our planet to a greener, more sustainable state.”
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