Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday inaugurated a tree plantation campaign for spring by planting a bottle palm at the CM’s Secretariat.
Members of the provincial assembly, the secretary of forestry, director general of Pakistan Housing Authority and district coordination officer of Lahore were also present on this occasion.
Addressing the occasion, the CM said the objective of the campaign was to create awareness among people about the environmental and economic benefits of trees, and motivate them to plant them as much as possible. He added that trees not only enhanced the natural beauty of cities, but also provided clean environments for people.
He stressed upon the youth to take an active part in the campaign as it promoted nature and constituted an ideal society. The secretary of Forestry said 20 million trees would be planted during the campaign. He said seven million saplings would be planted on land belonging to the Forest Department, 4.6 million on lands of other departments and 8.4 million by private owners.
CM congratulates Shirmeen Obaid-Chinoy on Oscar win: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif congratulated Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy for directing ‘Saving Face’, a documentary film based on violence against women in Pakistan, for winning an academy award. In his felicitation message, Sharif said Chinoy had brought great pride to Pakistan as the first Pakistani ever to receive an Oscar. He said Pakistani women were blessed with creative abilities and that Pakistan had great potential for excelling in all kinds of fields.
CM holds conference on dengue control: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday addressed the inaugural ceremony of a 3-day international conference held in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Punjab government on controlling the dengue virus at a local hotel.
In his address, the CM said the provincial government was fully prepared to deal with the possible outbreak of dengue. He said the Punjab government had saved peoples’ lives by utilising all departmental resources in an organised manner last year. He added that the government had benefited from the expertise of the Sri Lankan dengue experts. Medical experts of the WHO, Sri Lanka, Thailand and other countries attended the conference.
Sharif also said the Punjab government was launching the first phase of a project on disposing solid waste on scientific lines in Lahore, to improve cleanliness in the city. He stressed upon the delegates of the conference to formulate suitable proposals to help eradicate dengue completely.
Dr Guido Sabatinelli, a WHO representative, said the WHO was working with the Pakistani government to fight dengue. She said surveillance and vector control could be greatly improved through international consultation and local academic partners.
WHO special envoy for Polio Eradication R H Gezairy stated the WHO would provide technical assistance to the Punjab government to curb dengue. He said the conference was providing Pakistani experts the chance to discuss dengue prevention with international experts. Around 20 international experts and 140 national stakeholders, relevant officials and provincial health departments also attended the international conference, which will end on February 29.
