The Punjab Forest Department has started planting trees on Thursday under the Green Pakistan Programme to improve the country’s forest cover.
This programme is the part of ‘Prime Minister’s Green Pakistan Programme’ which is aiming to plant 100 million trees across the country, while this programme is aiming to plant 14 million trees in Punjab.
Following the programme, a ceremony was held at Karol Ghati forest in Lahore, where Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Minister, Mian Yawar Zaman, inaugurated the campaign by planting a tree on the behalf of Punjab Chief Minister, Shehbaz Sharif. The ceremony was attended by Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Department Secretary, Capt (R) Jahanzeb Khan, South Punjab Forest Company CEO, Tahir Rashid, and others.
Mian Yawar Zaman, while addressing the ceremony, said that Punjab government had set a goal to plant 14 million trees in the province for the spring tree plantation campaign. He said that 4.71 million trees will be planted in forest department’s land, 1.44 million in military lands, 1.21 million in other departments, while 6.6 million trees will be planted in private lands. Yawar informed that other than the set goal, the forest department will spend amount from its development and non-development budget to plant trees on 8,317 acres for the storage purpose, and it will plant trees alongside roads on 351 avenue miles.
Punjab Forest Department was aiming to plant saplings on 143 acres across the province, where it will prepare 15.47 million saplings.
Yawar Zaman said, “Through Green Pakistan Programme in Punjab, Rs1,285 million have been allocated, through which almost 5.5 million trees will be planted on 10,000 acres of forest land across 13 districts in five years. Furthermore, the department will provide 22.15 million trees to the people on comparatively lower prices, which will be easily available at 244 sale points.” He said that under this programme, farmers will also contribute to this cause and they will be facilitated in planting trees. “The government will provide 70 per cent of funds, whereas the remaining 30 per cent will be provided by the farmers.” He said.
SPFC CEO, Tahir Rasheed, said that Green Pakistan Programme will be a successful initiative, as it will help improving the forest cover of Pakistan, leading to the conservation of wildlife. He said that it will help to adapt and mitigate the impact of climate change in Pakistan, as the country was highly vulnerable to the phenomenon.
Moreover, the federal government will bear 50 per cent cost of the project for its Green Pakistan Programme, whereas each province will contribute 50 per cent as a matching grant. Through the programme, 100 million trees will be planted across the country. The programme aims to plant indigenous tree species to conserve and promote the local flora of Punjab. The species to be planted in different ecological areas include Chir, Kail, Deodar, Fit, Partal, spruce, Phulai, Kiker, Rubinia, Kahu, Jand, Ber, fig, Akhrot, Toot, Neem, Frash and other species.
