The Pakistan Tehrik i Insaaf (PTI) are distributing ‘pencils with seeds’ to school children in Karachi as part of their ‘Million tree tsunami’ which they had announced in February for the City.
The announcement was made by PTI Karachi leader Arif Alvi, who tweeted a picture of the pencils saying “As a part of the Million Tree Tsunami in Karachi, Imran Khan will officially launch ‘pencils with seeds.’ This is a very innovative concept to encourage children to plant. The rubber part of pencil has a degradable capsule that contains seeds of cucumber, lady finger, brinjal, spinach, and coriander.
As a part of the #MillionTreeTsunami in Karachi @ImranKhanPTI will officially launch بیج والی پنسل
This is a very innovative concept to encourage children to plant. The rubber part of pencil has a degradable capsule that contains seeds of
کھیرا، بھنڈی، بینگن، پالک اور ہرا دھنیا pic.twitter.com/YvbfBxLLbJ— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) May 6, 2018
The move is part of the million tree tsunami which the party is planning in the metropolis. The PTI plans to replicate its Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Billion Tree Tsunami project on a smaller scale in Karachi by distributing one million plant saplings to residents in different areas of the metropolis.
The concept of ‘pencils with seeds’ was met immediately with scepticism, however, as people questioned how original the idea actually was and asking whether the PTI was considering cucumber, lady finger, brinjal, spinach, and coriander as trees.
Arif Alvi has responded in turn by clarifying that while the idea of such pencils was not original, the PTI’s efforts are the first time that they are being used on such a large scale and being distributed for free.
“Seeds in the place of rubber in a pencil was originally devised by some students at MIT a few years ago. Making it as a massive free campaign for children to adopt is ours” he said in another tweet.
Seeds in the place of rubber in a pencil was originally devised by some students at MIT a few years ago. Making it as a massive free campaign for children to adopt is ours. The reception بیج والی پنسل got during test runs was remarkable. Will post a few pictures of yesterday
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) May 6, 2018
He also clarified that this was a philanthropic project initiated by PTI chief Imran Khan and was being funded by private donors.
“It is a philanthropic venture. It is not being sold but being distributed free of cost to children of all government or private schools in Karachi.”
It is a philanthropic venture. It is not being sold but being distributed free of cost to children of all government or private schools in Karachi https://t.co/lpeP8CLryt
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) May 6, 2018
Dr Alvi also had to go ahead and say that the aim of the ‘pencil with a seed’ project was not to increase the count of the PTI’s million tree tsunami project in Karachi, but rather to encourage children to plant trees and to distribute sustainable, eco friendly stationary.
“Who said they were tree seeds? It is a subprogram of the Million Tree Tsunami We are trying to motivate children to plant. Make the city green. Trees cannot grow on balconies or rooftops. This is where plants will help. Have a heart, don’t criticise but join us” he said in response to a query.
Who said they were tree seeds? It is a sub program of the #MillionTreeTsunami We are trying to motivate children to plant. Make the city green. Trees cannot grow on balconies or rooftops. This is where plants will help. Have a heart, don’t criticise but join us https://t.co/EoN7wiM7tX
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) May 6, 2018
