KARACHI: Local Government and Forest Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah inaugurated tree plantation campaign 2021 by planting a sapling at Bagh-i-Jinnah (old Polo Ground) on Wednesday.

Administrator of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Laeeq Ahmed and civil society organisation members also planted trees.

The tree plantation campaign is being launched under the KMC.

Speaking to the participants of the ceremony, the LG minister said that over 100,000 environment-friendly and indigenous plants would be used in the tree plantation campaign, adding that the KMC’s parks department had developed some 70,000 indigenous saplings in their own nurseries, while memorandums of understanding had also been signed with civil society organisations to seek their cooperation in making Karachi a green city.

The provincial minister said the forest department had launched various projects in the province, including Green Sindh, Urban Forest and Mangroves Project, on directives of PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.

Says KMC is getting Rs500m monthly grant

He added that Mr Bhutto-Zardari had inaugurated Miyawaki Forest in Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Park in March 2019 and the trees had now begun bearing fruit.

Nasir Shah said that Miyawaki Forests were also started in Federal B. Area and Shah Faisal Colony in partnership with the forest department, KMC, KDA, and other land-owning agencies. “Its area is being increased and the KDA has identified around 400 spots which were vacated, where commercial activates were started, including parks, playgrounds and amenity plots. We are starting Miyawaki Forest in the Malir River also,” he added.

The minister said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had also inaugurated Miyawaki Forest in Lahore a few days back, which was a positive step, but the Sindh government had started Miyawaki Forest in March 2019.

He thanked the civil society organisations and individuals for support in making the city green and appealed to all to play their role in making the city environment friendly. “The government is making efforts but it cannot succeed until residents of Karachi participate in the campaign,” he added.

Earlier, Administrator Laeeq Ahmed gave details of the tree plantation campaign 2021.

LG performance

Later talking to the media, Minister Nasir Shah said that substantial change had been witnessed in local bodies’ performance and revenue collection after the appointment of administrators. “No new tax has been imposed nor has [there] been any increase made in any tax, but the DMCs have increased their revenue and made huge savings,” he claimed.

Giving an example of DMC Central, he said 594 retired employees had been given their dues pending since 2016 from savings while Rs200 million was still in the DMC account.

He said the KMC was the only corporation in the province which was being given a grant of Rs500m every month.

The provincial minister said the KMC owned valuable assets, including petrol pumps and shops, which needed to be managed properly, but in the past these properties were leased at very low rates and those who got these properties further outsourced the KMC assets against huge amounts.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2021