Use of clean, renewable energy sources advocated

Islamabad:Climate change minister Musadik Masood Malik on Tuesday renewed Pakistan’s commitment to environmental protection and climate resilience, joining the global community in efforts to safeguard their shared home—Earth.

On the occasion of World Earth Day 2025 marked on April 22, the minister said the day's theme, "Our Power, Our Planet," showed that the solutions to the climate crisis were within people's grasp.

“It is a call to action—a collective imperative to move away from polluting fossil fuels and embrace clean, renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower,” he said. The minister said Pakistan was on the frontlines of climate change and continued to endure devastating floods, record-breaking heatwaves, prolonged droughts and rapid glacial melt.

He, however, said Earth Day was an opportunity to reflect on those escalating challenges—and to accelerate collective efforts involving government, civil society, youth and the private sector.

Malik also said the government underpined the unprecedented significance of green energy and was committed to transition to renewable energy sources—such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal and geothermal—to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.

"Transition to green energy is both a global necessity and a national priority. Under the government’s directions, we [ministry] have spearheaded major initiatives aimed at clean energy transformation, environmental protection and sustainable development," he said.

The minister said the government's green initiatives, meant to achieve environmental sustainability and climate resilience goals, included implementation of the Alternative and Renewable Energy Policy, expansion of solar energy, deployment of off-grid clean energy solutions in underserved rural communities, launch of the Green Stimulus Package to create green jobs, rollout of the National Electric Vehicle Policy to decarbonise transportation, and collaboration with provincial governments to integrate climate-friendly energy planning at the grassroots level.

Meanwhile, state minister for climate change Dr Shezra Mansab Ali Khan Kharal, in a message on the World Earth Day, said from promoting reforestation and smart agriculture to accelerating renewable energy and clean mobility, Pakistan could effectively help shape a cleaner, stronger and more sustainable future for the current and future generations.

“Pakistan stands committed to using its power not just to protect the planet but to build a better tomorrow for every citizen,” she said. Calling upon all stakeholders, policymakers and communities, the minister called for celebrating the Earth Day with meaningful actions—plant a tree, conserve water, reduce plastic, and support green policies.

She said every step counted to achieve overall environmental sustainability and climate resilience in Pakistan. The minister also urged people to unite in climate action spearheaded by the government through different programmes and initiatives being implemented for environmental conservation and protection of natural resources particularly of water, forests, soil and air.