On 23^rd of this December, I was ready to experience my second international Flight. There were 11 Nepalese delegates including me in the group who were going Pakistan to attend 10^th edition of South Asian Economics Student Meet (SAESM). It was our honor that Dr. Biswomber Pyakurel, a veteran economist of Nepal was among us. It was almost 1:30 pm when we arrived at Jinnah International Airport of Karanchi, Pakistan. There we stayed on transit for almost 6 hours and easily passed those hours making a productive discussion with Dr. Pyakurel about different economics related issues of our country and rest of the world.

I think it was about 9:30 pm when we arrived at Allama International Airport of Lahore after a flight of about one and half hours from Karanchi. After arriving on airport, we came to know that delegates from Bangladesh were also in the same plane. Later, we started to greet delegates from Bangladesh and after few minutes when we came to the exit of Airport, Host team members offered us garland as they welcomed us. 

We then enjoyed the 3 days long formal programs in Lahore University of Management Science (LUMS) and Lahore School of Economics (LSE). I gave presentation on ?The Political Economy of Forest Encroachment and Community Forest Governance in Nepal? and other Nepali delegates also gave presentation on different topic of their theme.

On the fourth day, we were quite excited to visit Harippa, an ancient archeological site in Panjab, where the Indus valley civilization was initiated. In remaining two days we visited Islamabad and Lahore fort respectively.

While travelling to different places of Pakistan, I was much delighted and perhaps I was smiling as well. Seeing smile on my face my friends asked me the reason of my smile. The reason behind my smile was only one thing i.e. green urbanization of Pakistani cities. I know standing tree with green leaves always make me feel happy. Eucalyptus and Poplar were seen to be the main part of avenue plantation. I think it is to fulfill the growing commercial demand of timber as the rotation period of Eucalyptus is only 7/8 years and is quite important to fulfill the increasing timber demand. Both Eucalyptus and Poplar species has vital role in decoration and Pulp and paper production. The plantation of these species has been practiced in many parts of Nepal as well. I compared our capital city Kathmandu with the cities of Pakistan and found a big difference in many things like infrastructures, transportations, Highways etc and finally got the answer of the question, why our country belongs to the category of Least Developed countries of the world.  

Of course, we Nepalese have to learn much from the people of Pakistan. Nepal can use its own type of available species for making its urban areas green. Road reconstruction is highly trumpeted issue in Nepal, therefore, owns strategy should be developed to make our avenue green. We need sustainable green cities instead of unmanaged cities seen in past days. Government of Nepal can use species like Eucalyptus, Poplar, Ashok (Polialthia longifolia and Saraca indica), Schima walichii (Chilaune) etc to make its cities green because these species are easily available, suits Nepalese climatic condition and helps in economic uplift as well.

Similarly, Pakistan is the nation which is still making progress even in conflicting situation. As our country is also passing through politically turbulent situation, we can learn how to make progress even in such turbulent condition by making our friendship tie strong with our another neighbor Pakistan as well.