AIOU to plant 100,000 saplings

The Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will plant around 100,000 saplings during the current spring season across the country with the support of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and other municipal institutions. “The AIOU will maintain this practice even during the rest of the seasons each year to promote the concept of ‘Green Pakistan’,” said Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Nazir Ahmed Sangi on Friday. inaugurated the spring tree-plantation campaign by planting a sapling of orange on the premises of Academic Complex of the university. Sangi said the services of volunteer students of the AIOU would be utilised to achieve the target of 100,000 saplings’ plantation.
The university, he said, would coordinate with the local governments to ensure maximum tree plantation in the country. Prof Dr Nowshad Khan, chairman, Department of Agricultural Sciences, and Prof Dr Syed Abdul Siraj, director, Regional Services, would supervise the task, he added. While underlining the importance of tree plantation, Dr Sangi said, “Trees provide oxygen, check pollution and supplier shadow besides providing food to human beings, animals and birds.” Dr Sangi urged the academic staff, officers, employees and students of the university to take active part in making the country’s weather pleasant.