KHAR: The forest department has launched a scheme to plant different fruit trees in hilly areas of Bajaur tribal district.

Divisional forest officer, Bajaur, Hayat Ali told this scribe here that the scheme which was the first such initiative in any tribal district was part of the government’s Billion Tree Tsunami Project.

Under the scheme, various plants, including that of walnut; almond and olive, would be planted in mountainous areas of the district.

This is for the first time in Bajaur that direct sowing of several fruit plants and wild plants has been initiated, said the official, adding that initially the seeds would be sown at 500 hectares of land.

Mr Ali said that the areas being selected for the seed sowing were the most suitable for the fruit-bearing and wild plants.

He said that they had chosen the areas after a proper survey. He said that the plants would boost the economic and environmental situation in the region.

Most of the people in the district, especially those living in mountainous areas, are poor and the scheme would help in improving their living standard, he said.

The official said that January was the best season for sowing of seeds of such plants in Bajaur. Answering a question, he said that about half of the local population had been attached with forestry-related business.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2019