APROPOS the letter ‘Timber’ (Oct 5). The writer is right in demanding a stop to the irrational cutting of forests, with the grave consequences of deforestation on the health of all living creatures and the planet.

Whenever we drive on the highways, especially in the evening and late at night, we frequently see heavily loaded trucks and even animal-pulled carts carrying timber. Over the years countless campaigns have been launched to plant trees to combat deforestation and increase the country’s forest cover which continues to shrink.

There is a need to initiate a proper monitoring system of forests and plantations and introduce systematic management to ensure that more trees are being planted than are being cut down.

The state needs to introduce measures like ensuring every institution in the country be it public or private, plant 10 saplings every quarter and care for them till they become young trees. Our youth needs to take the lead by initiating plantation drives every other month. This along with proper leadership is the only way to make Pakistan green.

Dr Sunil Maheswari

Thatta

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2019