PESHAWAR: The district administration, Peshawar, on Tuesday cancelled weekly off of all the public and private schools and colleges for planting 200,000 saplings in the provincial capital.

The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Peshawar deputy commissioner Imran Hamid Sheikh, according to a statement issued here.

It was attended by additional DC Shahid Ali, assistant commissioner Mughees Sanaullah and officials of the revenue, forest, irrigation, agriculture, education and livestock departments.

The participants were briefed about the plans of district administration regarding plantation of 200,000 saplings in connection with ‘Green Day’ celebration on September 2 (Sunday).

Arrangements for the initiative were finalised and targets assigned to the participants.

The DC ordered that the government schools and colleges working in the limits of Peshawar would remain open on Sunday, Sept 2, so that maximum participation of students could be ensured in this activity.

He said the students from schools, colleges and universities along with 1,500 scouts would participate in this plantation drive, which would focus on roads, parks, educational institutes, canal banks and other government buildings and spaces. He claimed that all departments would be responsible for the look after of the trees planted on their respective properties.

Mr Sheikh urged the people to wholeheartedly participate in the plantation campaign.

Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2018