ISLAMABAD — In a powerful testament to visionary leadership and environmental solidarity, Pakistan has joined hands with Ethiopia in planting 700 million seedlings in a single day under the “Renewal Through Planting” campaign—an ambitious initiative launched in 2024 as part of Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Abiy Ahmed’s Green Legacy Initiative.
This remarkable achievement was celebrated during a joint plantation drive and media briefing held at the Ethiopian Residency in Islamabad. The event drew an impressive and diverse audience, including members of the diplomatic corps, Pakistani government officials, lawmakers, business leaders, religious scholars, youth, civil society representatives, and media.
The event was graced by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, H.E. Dr. Musadik Malik, as the chief guest. Mr. Hamid Asghar Khan, Additional Secretary (Africa) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, served as guest of honor.
In his keynote address, H.E. Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula, Ambassador of Ethiopia to Pakistan, hailed the “Renewal Through Planting” campaign as a continuation of Ethiopia’s trailblazing Green Legacy Initiative, launched by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2019. The initiative has become a global benchmark for environmental resilience, aiming to combat deforestation, restore ecosystems, reduce carbon emissions, and ensure food security and sustainable development.
Ambassador Beker emphasized that Pakistan’s active participation in this global green movement is a powerful signal of South-South solidarity and mutual commitment to combating climate change. He also announced that a high-level Ethiopian delegation comprising climate experts and officials will soon visit Pakistan to further strengthen bilateral cooperation through “Green Dialogues” and nationwide plantation campaigns.
In his remarks, Minister Musadik Malik praised Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his visionary climate leadership and commended Ethiopia’s environmental achievements, including Yelemat Tirufat (Bounty of Basket), which promotes sustainable agriculture and nutrition. He applauded Ambassador Beker’s tireless efforts to embed green values in Pakistan-Ethiopia ties, and highlighted the importance of learning from Ethiopia’s transformative environmental strategies.
This joint action between Ethiopia and Pakistan underscores Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s far-reaching global influence in environmental diplomacy and climate leadership. The Green Legacy Initiative has now transcended borders, uniting nations under a common cause of renewal, regeneration, and resilience.
As Ethiopia and Pakistan join forces to nurture the planet, they set a bold example of what international cooperation can achieve when inspired by visionary and values-driven leadership.
BY: The Times Union
