PESHAWAR: The Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, in collaboration with Public Health Association Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has launched a tree plantation drive to help address issues of global warming and water crisis.

The inaugural ceremony of the first phase of the campaign was held on Monday. The participants planted 150 trees at the main campus of the KMU.

The theme of the drive is to celebrate the 71st Independence Day of the country for a ‘Green Pakistan’.

Different varieties of saplings were planted during the first phase. A variety of saplings were generously contributed by Tarnab Farms, KP Public Health Association and Dr Shazia Naz.

KMU Vice-Chancellor Dr Arshad Javaid was the chief guest on the occasion. DG Health Dr Ayub Roze, Principal Gajju Khan Medical College Dr Mohammad Zubair Khan and Registrar KMU Dr Saleem Gandapur were also present.

Representatives of WHO and Unicef also planted trees on the occasion. Public Health Association chairperson Dr Saima Abid thanked the participants for helping the tree plantation cause.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof Arshad Javaid said trees were an investment for the future generations to provide cleaner air to breathe. He said planting trees was a noble cause to benefit the generations to come. He said as a result of climate change and global warming, Pakistan was experiencing severe heat waves for last two years, which claimed more than 1,000 lives.

Environmental pollution and temperature is increasing every day with highest deforestation rate, he pointed out, saying trees could serve as green shelter during extreme climate conditions thus making earth cooler for animal and human life. Plants to earth are like lungs to the human body, he stressed.

Prof Javaid hoped that the tree plantation drives would keep continuing, and that everyone would take responsibility to protect and care the planted trees.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2018