TAXILA: Deputy Commissioner Attock Ali Anan Qamar has said that 140,000 saplings would be planted across the Attock district under ‘A Tree for Pakistan Day’ campaign.

He was inaugurating the tree plantation drive along with Punjab Public Accounts Committee Chairman Syed Yawar Boukhari in Attock on Tuesday.

He said the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society were also part of the drive.

All public departments and people from all walks of life should play their role in making the environment better, he added.

Plantation is being done on various roads, entry and exit points of the city, he said, adding that there is a dire need to make a mechanism for nurturing trees to make the drive a success.

Trees play a vital role in creating a healthy environment, he said, adding that citizens must cooperate with the government and plant trees in their homes and offices.

“Minimum forest cover on 25pc area is necessary to keep the natural environment clean,” Mr Qamar said.

He said the district administration had declared an open war against the timber mafia adding that strict action would be taken against those involved in cutting trees.

Speaking on this occasion, Punjab Public Accounts Committee Chairman Syed Yawar Boukhari said tree plantation was necessary to deal with environmental changes.

He said the world was facing the biggest threat from climate change and according to international reports Pakistan would be one of the first countries to get affected by it.

Trees are factories of oxygen, he added and urged people to plant trees in order to create a better future for themselves and their children.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2020