RAPID deforestation has caused much harm to Mother Nature and created environmental degradation in Pakistan. The country’s forest cover has declined to less than four per cent in recent years. Even this is fast disappearing owing to the continued chopping of trees.

Deforestation has caused grave issues like erratic weather patterns, rising temperatures, glacial melting and heat waves. The transmission of green house gases mainly carbon in the environment is rapidly increasing because of the alarming extent of deforestation.

Therefore, there is a need for initiating widespread awareness and environment protection campaigns. The state and public must work in tandem to ban this brazen act. The Centre and provincial governments should initiate environment-friendly policies and facilitate plantation campaigns while the public and other stakeholders should strive to participate in these campaigns with zeal.

Assad Ali Baloch

Dadu

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2018