LAHORE: All divisional commissioners have been directed to make a comprehensive plan for carrying out a mass tree planting drive with the help of the Tiger Force and volunteers at the district and tehsil levels and also observe the Tiger Force Day for recognising its services during the coronavirus pandemic.

Presiding over a meeting here on Friday, Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Youth Affairs Usman Dar said ceremonies would be organised for massive tree planting on the Tiger Force Day.

Addressing the meeting, Mr Dar said the Tiger Force fulfilled its responsibilities in an excellent manner during the pandemic.

He added, “In order to take maximum benefit of services of the Tiger Force in the tree planting campaign, it has been decided to increase the number of volunteers and the registration in this regard would open in the next few days through a mobile phone application. The services of Tiger Force were being utilised in a better way in Punjab.”

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said the government was providing the youth with opportunities to participate in the development of the country.

Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik asked all the commissioners to make arrangements for tree planting at district and tehsil level on the occasion of Tiger Force Day and sought a plan within the next five days.

Forests Secretary Muhammad Asif briefed the meeting that a target of planting 37m trees had been set for the monsoon in Punjab and places had been identified in different cities for mass tree planting. He claimed that 244 nurseries of the forest department had a stock of 85m plants at present.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Special Education Muhammad Akhlaq, Punjab Information Technology Board Chairman Azfar Manzoor and Lahore Division Commissioner Danish Afzal whereas all other commissioners participated through a video link.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2020