, citizens are being paid to take climate-positive actions. Learn more here.){kind=link}
Story from Our Correspondents: Hira Bajwa and Rehman Ali
What if planting a tree, recycling plastic, or even posting about the environment could earn you real money? In Punjab, that idea is no longer fiction. With the launch of the CM Punjab Green Credit Program (CMPGCP), citizens are being paid to take climate-positive actions, turning small environmental steps into real cash rewards.
The initiative, introduced in December 2024 by the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EP&CCD), is pioneering a new era of community-driven, incentive-based environmental responsibility, and it’s starting right here in Lahore.
The program is currently running as a pilot in Lahore, but due to its early success, it is now set to expand across the entire province of Punjab. Citizens can engage in 32 climate-positive activities, such as planting trees, adopting electric vehicles, promoting eco-awareness, cycling for clean air, and sharing verified content, all linked to a reward system.
How Does the Process Work?
Each verified activity earns citizens a Green Credit, a cash reward of PKR 10,000. Participants can earn up to 10 Green Credits (worth PKR 100,000) by completing approved activities. The process is simple and transparent:
- Register on the official CMPGCP portal.
- Submit activity details via the MRV (Measurement, Reporting & Verification) form.
- The activity is then reviewed and physically verified.
- The supervisory committee approves the activity.
- Green Credits are issued directly to the citizen.
So far, more than 500 people have received Green Credits, with over 200 more in the pipeline. What’s especially encouraging is the diversity of participation: 66% are youth and 40% are women, signalling broad-based ownership of environmental change.
One of the standout initiatives within the Lahore pilot is the installation of a plastic recycling reward machine. By depositing 10 used plastic bottles, citizens receive a cash reward of PKR 1,000. It’s a simple but powerful example of how climate action can be turned into everyday habits and real incentives.
Incentivising Sustainability
To boost reach and awareness, the CMPGCP is also engaging social media influencers. Any influencer with 1,000 or more followers who posts verified environmental content can earn 1 Green Credit. Those with over 1 million followers are placed in a Gold Category, recognising their broader impact.
The government is also preparing to launch a Green Credit Trading Mechanism, which would allow participants to sell or exchange their credits, potentially connecting Punjab’s local climate actions to global carbon markets, a major step forward in environmental financing.
The momentum is building with two major public events: a Cyclathon on 6th September (Defence Day) and another on 14th August (Independence Day). These rides are more than symbolic; they’re an invitation to citizens to link patriotism with environmental action.
Aligned with the Punjab Growth Strategy, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this initiative is more than a policy; it’s a climate action model for the rest of the country.
From plastic bottles to tree planting, from social media reels to real-life change, Punjab is proving that the future of climate leadership is local, youth-led, and rewarding.
Because here, doing good for the planet doesn’t just feel good, it pays.
The CM Punjab Green Credit Program is currently expanding from its successful Lahore pilot to all districts across Punjab. For more information and to register, visit the official CMPGCP portal.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for latest news and updates