BY planting a sapling at Haripur on Sunday Prime Minister Imran Khan has launched a 10 billion tree campaign to make Pakistan greener. There are no two opinions this campaign is a step in the right direction.

There are vast areas in Pakistan which are barren and need plantation. The first priority for plantations should be all the hilly and mountainous regions that have been deforested over the decades by the timber mafia.

The next on the list should be the thousands of miles of roads — coastal, national and intercity highways, motorways besides the corridors along the railway tracks.

One prays that the saplings planted are cared for and trees emerge to make a lush and green Pakistan.

Col (retd) Syed Riaz Jafri

Rawalpindi

(2)

THE 10-billion tree project is a commendable initiative. The prime minister deserves kudos for the campaign.

Climate change and pollution affects the whole nation. Increasing Pakistan’s forest cover manifold is the only solution to deal with the problem. To attain this objective we must start planting trees now.

A sagacious leader always thinks about future generations. According to the UNDP, three out of four people worldwide depend on forests for drinking water. Cities can significantly improve their water security by 10 per cent or more through forest restoration measures. The restoration of forest cover is a natural solution for water security.

Zulfiqar Ali Khaskheli

Hyderabad

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2018