Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday called on the developed world to support countries vulnerable to climate change, addressing a function on World Environment Day being hosted for the first time by the country.

"Pakistan's contribution to global warming and climate change is minimal. Rich countries, which contribute significantly more, have a greater responsibility to provide funds to ones like ours so that we can fight climate change," he said.

Pakistan is hosting the day in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme, Dawn reported.

The premier said Pakistan was left with very little money to address climate issues, highlighting the difference in resources between the developed and developing world.

He said that Pakistan has pledged to shift to producing 60 percent clean energy by 2030. "People must now pay attention to planting trees and cleaning rivers to reduce pollution.

"This is the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration. This is the decade the world fights back to restore the ecosystem."

The premier began by stating that it was an honor for Pakistan to be hosting the event marking World Environment Day. "The world has realized that Pakistan is one of the few countries worried about coming generations."

He lamented the fact that in the past, the world did not pay attention to climate change. "Some countries did, but most did not and Pakistan was among them."

Highlighting Pakistan's contributions towards combatting climate change, PM Imran said that the country was responsible for less than one percent of global carbon emissions. "Despite this, we decided to do whatever we can to fight global warming which has negative consequences."

(SAM)