Prime Minister Imran Khan approved the “Green Stimulus” package as part of the government’s efforts to extend green cover in the country and to create job opportunities for the youth in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.

Since Pakistan locked down starting March 23 to try to stem the spread of COVID-19, unemployed day labourers have been given new jobs as “jungle workers”, planting saplings as part of the country’s 10 Billion Tree Tsunami programme.

Under the package, a “Green Nigehbaan” initiative will also be launched to initially provide job opportunities to 65,000 youths/daily wage earners, making them part of the plantation campaign.

Source: Reuters

[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pakistan-trees-fea/as-a-green-stimulus-pakistan-sets-virus-idled-to-work-planting-trees-idUSKCN22A369](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pakistan-trees-fea/as-a-green-stimulus-pakistan-sets-virus-idled-to-work-planting-trees-idUSKCN22A369)