[1] Prime Minister Imran Khan started the drive on 2 September 2018 with approximately 1.5 million trees planted on the first day.
In 2020, the program tripled its number of workers to 63,600 after being momentarily halted following the COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan, aiming to enlist those left unemployed by its economic consequences.
[4] Most of the work, which paid between 500 and 800 rupees (US$3–5) a day, took place in rural areas, with people setting up nurseries, planting saplings, and serving as forest protection guards.
Its success quickly gained international recognition, with organizations like the Bonn Challenge, the World Bank, and the IUCN praising its environmental impact.
Inspired by the original project, Prime Minister Imran Khan initiated a similar, larger-scale effort, the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami, in 2018.
While Pakistan's economy is 135th in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, it is among the top ten countries in the world to be affected by global warming according to the annual report of Global Climate Risk Index of German Watch, which ranks Pakistan as eighth among the countries most at risk of climate change.
[11] Pakistan has a wide variety of ecosystems within its borders, including the Arabian sea, several deserts and major rivers, and more than seven thousand glaciers.
For instance, Saudi Arabia, after launching its own Billion Tree project, invited Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit and strengthen bilateral relations.
Additionally, the United States, recognizing Pakistan's environmental leadership, invited the country to participate in a climate summit.
[14] The global impact of the Billion Tree Tsunami was substantial, with other nations like the UK and New Zealand initiating similar projects.