ISLAMABAD, July 24, 2025 – In a landmark step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation, Ethiopia and Pakistan have launched a joint initiative to enhance food security and green economic development.
The first-ever Green Legacy Forum was held at the National Agriculture Research Center (NARC), co-organized by the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad and Pakistan’s Ministry of National Food Security and Research.
Presiding over the forum, Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula, Ethiopia’s Special Envoy to Pakistan, shared Ethiopia’s success in achieving food self-sufficiency, emphasizing its Green Legacy and Yelemat Tirufat (Bounty of Basket) initiatives.
“Both Ethiopia and Pakistan are agro-based economies vulnerable to climate change. By sharing knowledge, we can build resilient food systems,” he said.
Ethiopia’s Green Success Story
Over the past six years, Ethiopia has planted 40.5 billion seedlings—including fruit trees, vegetables, coffee, and animal fodder—boosting its forest cover from 17% to 23%. Simultaneously, the Bounty of Basket program significantly improved agricultural and livestock productivity.
The Ethiopian Ambassador expressed his country’s willingness to collaborate further, helping Pakistan adopt similar sustainable farming, afforestation, and water management practices.
Pakistan Keen to Replicate Ethiopian Model
Federal Secretary Amir Mohyuddin lauded Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Green Legacy Initiative, calling it a symbol of prosperity and environmental restoration. He proposed twinning Pakistan’s Green Pakistan program with Ethiopia’s Green Legacy, enabling joint research, knowledge sharing, and community-based afforestation models.
Symbol of Bilateral Friendship
After the forum, the Ethiopian Ambassador and Pakistan’s Federal Secretary inaugurated the Green Legacy Park at NARC, planting fruit seedlings as a symbol of Ethiopia-Pakistan friendship.
DG NARC, Dr. Muhammad Azam Khan, stressed the importance of global partnerships to combat climate change, soil erosion, water scarcity, and food insecurity.
This collaboration marks the beginning of a new chapter in Ethiopia-Pakistan relations, combining expertise, shared challenges, and sustainable solutions for a greener future.
