ISLAMABAD: Volunteers have launched a seeds ball campaign – throw and grow – here on Sunday at the Margalla Hills to promote culture of planting trees with internationally-recognised easy methods in the country.
The campaign was launched in collaboration with the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) inviting the people from civil societies, media and other walks of life to the most visited trails including trail three, five and six of the Margalla Hills.
“So far, we have prepared 15,000 to 20,000 seed balls to be sold to the visitors of the Margalla Hills at nominal price,” said Tassadaq Malik, managing director of a foreign company. He said that the campaign received encouraging response as around 50 people from various walks of life including families living near the trails participated in this drive.
He said that the campaign was aimed at implementation of the seeds ball scheme in the country considered to be instrumental for rapid plantation. He said that he held the consultation with IWMB and requested to pursue the seeds ball strategy, adding the plan was recognised world over as economical and effective method of plantation.
“The success rate of this method is over 50 percent comparing traditional plantation of 10 percent,” Tassadaq said. Keeping in mind the lowest position of Pakistan in the region regarding land versus green area, he said that they came up with this concept of planting a tree without any hassle as compare to conventional practice that needed much effort.
He said that the activity was being organised to make clay balls filled up with various kinds of plants’ seed by engaging the locals of the National Marhalla Hills Park area. The balls are being prepared in thousands after collecting the seeds from the Margalla Hills and distributed among the visitors by IWMB’s staff educating the former to throw it in the open and feasible area.
“A ball having capacity to safeguard the seeds for one year from unsuitable weather will wait for right condition to grow and be sold out at the cost of two rupee and all earning will be distributed among the naive of park,” he said. He said that the seeds of Lebbek, Kachnar, Pine, Shun Flower, Amaltas, Kikar trees were selected for the seeds ball and a buyer would be informed about the feasible area of those seeds.
On the other hand, IWMB official Sakhawat Ali vowed to continue this campaign and urged others to assist the department for such meaningful purpose and save the country from menace of global warming. The department spoke with the locals of the National Park area and asked them to stitch small bags for the collection of seed from the mountains soon after the idea was approved by IWMB’s top management.
It is pertinent to mention that ‘let’s plant a tree’ a public-backed campaign has been gaining momentum started just couple of months ago motivating the masses to play their role for national cause. Such acts are showing that the public has start taking interest in growing plant to save the future of their children.