PESHAWAR: The Peshawar Development Authority and Cecos University have jointly launched a tree plantation drive in Hayatabad and Ring Road, Peshawar, to join the campaign of ‘Green Pakistan’ this monsoon.

According to a press release issued here on Wednesday, the tree plantation campaign would continue for one week to contribute to achieving the aim of ‘Green Pakistan’.

In this regard, a ceremony was held on the varsity’s campus to launch the plantation drive, which was attended by its vice-chancellor Prof Riaz A. Khattak, faculty members and students.

In Buner, the district administration and local government jointly planted 150,000 saplings by involving about 10,000 volunteers on the Independence Day as part of celebrations with the aim to make Buner ‘green and clean’.

Soon after attending the celebrations at the college playground in Swari, the volunteers moved to the spot called Kingar Gali located on the boundary of Buner and Mardan districts. Deputy commissioner Shafiullah Khan, district nazim Dr Obaidullah, naib nazim Yousaf Ali Khan and heads of line departments launched the plantation drive. On this occasion, Malakand division commissioner Zaheerul Islam encouraged the volunteers, district administration and local government for their positive approach to turn the Buner district ‘green and clean’.

In his brief chat, he said that this type of positive approach would definitely lead the country to the accomplishment of a strong Pakistan in the near future. The commissioner said that tree plantation would help improve environment of the district and the country and enhance opportunities of tourism in the area which would benefit the local people.

In Lakki Marwat, the district administration is set to make its ‘Green Lakki Marwat’ plantation campaign a success as the drive to grow more trees is in full swing as part of monsoon plantation activities.

Government officials, students, teachers, volunteers and people from different segments of society participated in the campaign. The deputy commissioner along with army officials also planted saplings on the premises of Lt Adnan Shaheed Sports Complex and district headquarters complex, Tajazai.

The local forest department has made arrangements for provision of free saplings to the local institutions and general public. Deputy commissioner Mohammad Kabir said on the occasion that forest cover would be increased by ensuring plantation on vast tracts of land in the district during the monsoon season.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2018