KARACHI: Several prominent sportspersons, Sindh Olympics Association and sports federations’ representative were present here on Wednesday as Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shallwani launched the Green Karachi campaign by planting a tree in his office vicinity.

The Commissioner praised the impressive participation of sports personalities and civil society members in the Green Karachi campaign and said better and healthy environment will ensure bright future for the country and the coming generations. He said every Pakistani must plant a tree and participate in the healthy drive.

The tree plantation drive, which has been fully supported by Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and its president Gen (retd) Arif Hasan and secretary Khalid Mahmood, is the brainchild of Sports For Life. Gen Arif said while speaking to CEO Shehzad Kazi that healthy environment is also a key part in the Olympic Charter of IOC this time.

The POA, Sindh Olympic Association (SOA) as well as the sportspersons and organisers in the metropolis have vowed to plant more than 150,000 tree and plants which is a great effort in improving the country’s environment and making the atmosphere clean and healthy.

In a simple ceremony organized jointly by CEO Shehzad Qazi of Sports For Life and KBBA’s Ghulam Mohammad, a number off sports personalities were present including ex-hockey coach Ikhlaque Ahmed, boxer Asghar Baloch, SOA environment committee’s Tehmina Asif besides Sindh Olympics senior officials Asif Azeem and Ahmed Rajput, Pakistan Tennis Federation’s Khalid Rehmani, Yoga federation’s Mohammad Arshad, Engr Mahfoozul Haq, Kashif Farooqi, Humaira Siddiqui, Asad Ibad and many others.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2020