ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday launched the country’s first barometer to measure green character and cleanliness of cities, called Clean Green Pakistan Index.

Addressing the launching ceremony, PM Imran Khan said pollution had risen to the alarming level in Lahore. 10 years ago you could drink tap water in the metropolis but it was not possible anymore, he added.

“Lives of senior citizens and children are at stake because of pollution, which is a silent killer. Lahore has become second or third most polluted city in the world,” he said.

He said in last 10 years, 70 percent of Lahore’s trees had been cut. Pakistan Clean and Green Index would make every city of the country green and clean again, he maintained.

“In next few years, we will transform the country into a greener land with the help of masses,” he said.

PM Imran said fighting the pollution was not just the government’s responsibility, but we would have to collaborate for making the country green and clean.

Also Read: Mahmood Qureshi announces to launch ‘Clean & Green Pakistan’ campaign

He said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was introducing a local government system which would ensure continuous provision of funds to villages.

“We are introducing the best local government system of Pakistan’s history. This system would empower people at village level,” he said adding that though the PTI did not have the government in Sindh but still it would tell them about the system so that they could implement it if they wanted to make progress.

Imran Khan expressed joy over Pakistan’s getting more money from taxes as people had started paying taxes.

“Pakistan has been put on the right path and now dollars are pouring in for the first time. For the first time in four years, the current account deficit has become surplus,” he said.

He said Pakistan can become the hub of tourism in the world.

He also said the nations which did not obey Allah (SWT) were destroyed.

Earlier, talking to media in Islamabad, Advisor on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said the barometer, Clean Green Pakistan Index, aimed at improving overall green and clean outlook of the Pakistani cities by kicking off competition among them on various indicators.

He said this would also start competition among 19 cities of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for greenery.

Amin Aslam said the CGPI had been rolled out under the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political manifesto of clean and green Pakistan and environmental conservation and sustainability.