The Government of Punjab in Pakistan has earmarked €13m for a Green Programme designed to get the ball rolling on building capacity in the Clean Development Mechanism.

The programme will be financed mainly through the Provincial Annual Development Programme on a priority basis. One of the new Green Programme’s tasks is to explore possibilities for funding environmental projects in the Province through accessing the CDM, Global Environment Facility (GEF) and other international funds.

Compared to its two largest neighbours, India and China, Pakistan is relatively late in coming to the CDM table. It only signed the Kyoto Protocol after much debate in December 2004. Since then there have been no indication from the Environment Ministry on starting dialogues with other Kyoto parties for CDM projects.

Punjab’s green fund lays the basic framework for an aggressive approach to Punjab’s environmental problems and hopefully the other three provinces (Sindh, NWFP and Baluchistan) will follow suit.

The Green programme promises to set out an action plan to address a range of issues, such as air pollution, waste treatment and clean drinking water. It also earmarks funds for local governments and departments for environmentally friendly projects that could become CDM projects.

According to Punjab's Chairman of Planning and Development Suleman Ghani: "Punjab is keen to honor its commitment to Multilateral Environment Agencies, promote green culture in the industrial and agriculture sectors and collaborate with stake-holders and donors to sponsor joint projects for sustainable development & environmental protection, we just hope this leads to a Pakistan wide initiative".