The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Pakistan Reconstruction Program (PRP) on Wednesday, which was World Environment Day, launched a tree plantation campaign at every site being reconstructed with USAID funding.
“Trees play a great role towards a better environment and the pollution so we need to encourage a tree planting culture. Let’s pledge for this on the “International Environment Day” as trees are the world’s single largest source of oxygen and they are under threat, which means that we are under threat.” said PRP Senior Manager Zulfiqar Rathore.
The PRP is engaged in reconstructing seven buildings for education departments at different universities across Pakistan, rehabilitating flood-damaged schools in Sindh and Balochistan, and reconstructing earthquake-damaged facilities in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
“The PRP holds public hearings for environmental impact assessment before starting construction. At every public hearing representatives from the community and provincial government environment protection agencies are invited to share concerns and suggestions. The environment impact assessment report is prepared based on those inputs and serves as a guide for all the design work, construction or rehabilitation activities.” said Engineering Manager Salman Khan.
The tree plantation campaign started with many saplings planted at the Jacobabad Institute of Medical Sciences (JIMS)’ construction site. During the groundbreaking ceremony of the hospital which took place earlier this year, US Ambassador Olson and USAID Mission Director Jock Conly planted local trees’ species to mark the start of construction work on this US$ 10 million USAID-funded project in the country’s south.
A similar tree plantation campaign has been initiated especially in Sindh and Balochistan where average temperatures have crossed 45 degrees because of declining tree cover and increasing heat-absorbing structures.
The program’s team members have also pledged in writing to accomplish one commitment each as corrective action for preserving the environment. Some pledged not to use plastic bags and committed themselves to reduce the use of paper and a larger number of the project staff pledged to plant maximum number of trees in their vicinities.
