ISLAMABAD, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the country has been striving to restore degraded landscapes for climate resilience as well as unlocking social, economic and environmental benefits.
"Land is a vital asset for Pakistan's food security, water availability, biodiversity conservation, and rural livelihoods," the prime minister said in his message on the occasion of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought.
Highlighting the challenges, Sharif said that nearly 50 percent of the country's land area is affected by various forms of degradation driven by deforestation, overgrazing, salinity, waterlogging, and unplanned urbanization.
Talking about the initiatives Pakistan has been taking to restore lands, the premier said that sustainable land management and ecosystem restoration are being prioritized.
He said that the country is also implementing the National Climate Change Policy and National Adaptation Plan to guide integrated land use and enhance ecological integrity. ■
