I extend my greetings to you, the people of Pakistan, on the launch of the Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign 2026. This national initiative reflects our collective responsibility to protect the environment, restore degraded landscapes and build a greener and more climate-resilient Pakistan.
Forests are among Pakistan’s most valuable natural assets. They sustain biodiversity, protect watersheds, combat desertification and land degradation, improve air quality, reduce disaster risks and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. As environmental challenges intensify, protecting and expanding our forest resources has become both a national responsibility and a strategic priority.
Pakistan remains committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and fulfilling its obligations under the Paris Agreement, the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Federal Government, Provincial Governments, the Governments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, together with other stakeholders, are working to strengthen forest conservation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable landscape management.
Our national initiatives, including the Upscaling Green Pakistan Programme, restoration of mangrove ecosystems, sustainable forest management and community-based conservation programmes, are helping to expand tree cover, protect biodiversity, improve livelihoods and strengthen resilience to climate change. These efforts must continue alongside measures to protect existing forests and ensure that newly planted trees survive and mature.
The impact of this work is also felt in the daily lives of our people. Trees provide shade in increasingly hot urban areas, help protect soil and water resources, improve the quality of the air we breathe and provide fruit, fodder and other resources to rural communities. For families, farmers and communities facing the effects of heat, water scarcity and extreme weather, healthy forests and green spaces are a practical part of building greater resilience.
I am encouraged by the participation witnessed during the Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2026. As we build on these efforts, the Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign 2026 aims to plant 20 million saplings across the country. I call upon our citizens, particularly young people, educational institutions, public and private organisations and local communities to participate actively and, equally importantly, to protect and nurture the saplings that are planted.
The Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign 2026 is more than a plantation drive. It is a call for sustained environmental responsibility and collective action. I encourage all citizens to plant suitable indigenous tree species and ensure their protection and survival. The true measure of success will not be the number of saplings planted, but the healthy trees and forests that we nurture over the years.
I commend the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Provincial Forest Departments, the Forest Departments of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, development partners, civil society organisations and volunteers for their efforts to conserve Pakistan’s forests and ecosystems.
Let us work together for a greener, cleaner and climate-resilient Pakistan. By protecting our natural resources and caring for the trees we plant today, we can help secure a healthier environment and a better future for generations to come.
Pakistan Zindabad
