LAHORE: Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has said that the initiative to plant 1.2 million saplings on the Tiger Force Day and six million trees in the future in the newly launched Ravi City project will bring significant positive changes to the environment of Lahore, which has been polluted beyond dangerous levels.

Mr Buzdar inaugurated a tree plantation campaign by planting a fig sapling at Shadman Market Park on ‘Tiger Force Day’ on Sunday and prayed for the success of the campaign.

Addressing the ceremony, the CM said the government planned to use the Japanese Miyawaki method of plantation that helps plants grow 10 times faster than a normally planted sapling. He highlighted that such saplings could absorb 40 per cent carbon dioxide and produce 30 per cent more oxygen, which would sufficiently reduce environmental pollution.

Stresses need for urban forestry, says forest being developed in Shadman

Lauding the Tiger Force volunteers for their work to serve humanity, the chief minister said some 520 events were being organised to plant 1.2 million trees across the province. In Lahore alone, he said, 160,000 saplings would be planted at 51 locations. He said 62 different species of plants would be planted on 154 kanals to promote urban forestry in Lahore.

“A forest is being developed in Shadman Market Park through the Japanese Miyawaki method and more than 9,000 saplings are being planted in it.”

The chief minister said urban forests were the need of the hour and resolved to further promote this concept. “We will provide clean and green Pakistan to the new generations by planting maximum trees,” he stressed.

He vowed that the Punjab government was fully determined to meet the target set by Prime Minister Imran Khan to plant 10 billion trees, adding that a forest would also be established on a vast area in Sialkot. He urged the public, elected representatives and the youth to plant saplings and look after them.

Mr Buzdar further highlighted that the Ravi River Front Urban Development Project was the country’s largest programme launched by the incumbent government. In order to eliminate water and environmental pollution, green zones would be established through this project to bring significant changes to the environment of Lahore.He deplored that no previous government had the will and initiative to launch such a project.

The Ravi City to be established on the pattern of Singapore and Dubai would stretch over 46 kilometres and three barrages would be constructed in it. International quality facilities would be provided in the city, including a lake with a capacity of storing 585,000 cusecs of water. The lake, he claimed, would not only help improve the ecosystem of the river, but also restore the underground water table.

“After Islamabad, the Ravi City will be the first city of Pakistan that will be inhabited through proper planning in which a latest medical city, sports city, tourism, entertainment city, finance city, innovative city, education city and 12 specialised cities will be established.”

Mr Buzdar said overseas Pakistanis, national and international investors would be provided opportunities to make secure investments worth billions of rupees. He told the gathering that 90pc items being used in the Ravi river front project would be locally manufactured, which would promote the local industry and escalate economic activities.

The chief minister, who had donned a Tiger Force cap, was also briefed about the saplings being planted under the tree plantation campaign, especially in Lahore, for the promotion of urban forestry. He also met with the Tiger Force members and appreciated their resolve.

Provincial ministers Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed, Muhammad Sibtain Khan, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, adviser Asif Mehmood, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Lahore Chairman Yasir Gillani, the forests, housing and information secretaries, the PHA director general and other officers concerned were present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2020