Students are the best bet in achieving any big goal or mission and incumbent PM Imran Khan is fully aware of their potential and capabilities as it was young generation that helped him to construct first Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital in Lahore and then excitedly voted him to reach the top slot.

Now the Imran Khan has involved them in the mega Clean and Green drive that was formally launched by him on Saturday at a girls’ college in the Federal Capital where he planted a sapling and participated in the cleanliness drive. Speaking on the occasion,

he also urged students to lead the campaign for safe future of the country. Indeed our students, who are so energetic and dedicated to anything they feel drawn towards, can do phenomenal work in making the mega clean and green drive successful. As also pointed out by the PM in his speech, the general state of our cities,

towns, villages and rivers all indicate we as a nation are not pro-clean. Then our ranking, being one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, also suggest that nothing adequate in the past was done for protection of environment despite existence of relevant ministry.

Anyway it is a matter of satisfaction that a person sitting at the top has the full understanding of the issue and devastation that could be brought by further environmental degradation.

It is because of this realisation that within few weeks of assuming the office, the PM has launched a crusade against unclean environment and targeted to plant ten billion trees in five years time which indeed will help offset the impact of global warming over a period of time.

As a nation it is also our moral responsibility and duty to supplement and support government’s initiative and contribute to it by first of all making our homes and surroundings neat and clean. Islam also puts great emphasis on cleanliness as well as environmental protection. We must ensure to become real participant in this crusade against unhygienic and polluted environment and surroundings.

The involvement of youth and students will definitely help create lot of awareness amongst the people. By kicking off the process from their educational institutions, the students should hold seminars and walks to sensitise people to myriad health related problems caused by heaps of garbage in big cities.

They in fact will have to become trendsetter and role model for this great cause by practically involving themselves in plantation and cleanliness.

But the real motivation starts from our homes. We must start the cleanliness drive from our own homes and surroundings. Our zeal and enthusiasm for cleanliness drive is useless, if our own homes and surroundings remain unclean as only a lit candle can light other unlit candles. Similarly, people who keep themselves and their surroundings clean, can help other people to achieve cleanliness objectives.

If everyone one starts maintaining cleanliness, the entire country will automatically become clean. In fact previous government had launched solid waste management projects in some cities yet we see our streets and water streams filled with litter only because people have not developed habit of throwing garbage in trash bins.

People can be seen throwing trash out of vehicles while travelling on roads and motorways. This attitude needs strong discouragement and for this to happen local bodies and police should be empowered to penalise those who throw garbage in the open. The fact of matter is that both people and concerned departments will have to play their respective part to achieve the goals of cleaner and greener Pakistan.