KARACHI, April 21: The Chairperson of the SWT, an NGO, Shahida Farooq, has called for widespread plantation to reduce environmental pollution as a mark of love for the earth.

In a statement on the occasion of Earth Day being observed on Monday, Ms Shahida, whose organization works for development of parks and trees and upgradation of environmental conditions, said the Earth Day was observed to highlight the importance of earth in human life and the need for its protection.

She pointed out that developed countries of the world had taken a lot of measures to protect their lands against environmental pollution.

They made their lands beautiful with plants and flowers and thus struggled against pollution.

Ms Shahida said following their example the Government of Pakistan should declare the year 2003 as the “Year of Earth” so that the whole nation could carry out practical struggle at the national and public levels for earth’s protection and its existence.

The SWT chief emphasized that to develop awareness of the significance of earth in human life, there was a need to spread knowledge and information through television, radio, pamphlets, seminars, symposia and other sources. — APP