Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said that the KP government targets to plant as many as 1.2 billion different saplings under the ‘Billion Tree Drive” in the whole province during the its five year tenure.
He stated this while addressing a reception in connection with World Forest Day. He requested students to actively participate in this drive. He said that only 600 million trees have been planted during the 70 years of the country’s history and that the KP govt has planted one lakh different saplings especially on World Forest Day.
Imran Khan strongly criticized previous government regarding tree plantation and added that instead of launching such a drive the previous government illegally grabbed forest land.
The sitting government has illegally occupied the forest land in Rajjan Pur and established housing societies on Tehsil Murree forest land.
PTI chief said melting of glaciers results in rising of temperature, saying that the locals will benefit from the forestation. The province-wide plantation drive was launched in February this year from Haripur district. “We need to leave a better Pakistan for our future generations and the campaign to save our forests begins from KP,” he said.
Those who cut down trees illegally will be fined heavily, the PTI chief said. “We have announced jihad against the timber mafia. Prominent politicians and official of the forest department were involved in this. We will amend the law to take stern action against them,” he said.