LAHORE: The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) and the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) have joined hands to grow 22 new Miyawaki forests at a cost of Rs97m in various parts of the city in a bid to reduce rising pollution and environmental degradation.

Under the plan, the PHA will develop and maintain forests in the LDA-owned housing schemes whereas the LDA will provide the land and funds required for the project, Dawn has learnt.

“In a meeting held here on Tuesday, the LDA DG assured the PHA of the handover of the sites and transfer of funds in this regard. As soon as we receive the funds, we will start work,” PHA Director General Jawad Qureshi told Dawn on Tuesday.

Miyawaki is a method invented by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, an expert in plant bio network, specialist in seeds and study of natural forests. The technique helps build dense and native forests with the plants having 10 times faster and 30 times denser growth.

The technique is being practised in India, Malaysia, Italy, Sri Lanka, France and many other countries

The PHA has also started work on developing forests on its own by involving the private sector. It developed 51 locations in the populated areas where such forests were developed. The work on these 51 forests was launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan in February this year at the Racecourse Park. In addition to the 51 urban forests developed by the PHA, the LDA also developed a Miyawaki forest at Liberty Market Park.

According to the proposal, the LDA plans to have 22 Miyawaki forests at its three major housing schemes — LDA Avenue-I, Jubilee Town and Mohlanwal Scheme. Around 14 forests on various pieces of land, measuring 32.62 acres in total, situated in blocks A, C, D, F, H, M and J have been planned with plantation of 135,000 saplings of various species.

The Jubilee Town will have seven forests with 70,000 saplings on various pieces of land, measuring about 16 acres, situated in blocks A, B, C, D and E. One forest, having 10,000 plants, will be developed in Mohlanwal Scheme that will cater the needs of B, C and D blocks.

“The total cost of the project has been estimated as nearly Rs97m that includes the cost of development (plants, labour, awareness and maintenance (3 years) etc,” states the proposal.

Mr Qureshi said the localities where the 51 forests have already been planted included Muslim Town, Johar Town, Model Town, Canal Road, Circular Garden, Riwaz Garden, Qainchi Park, Greater Iqbal Park, Begum Kot, Jilani Park, Township, Pathrowonwali Park, Green Town, Qarshi Park, Gulberg, Sabzazaar, Gulshan-i-Ravi, Jallo, Garden Town, Shadman and Allama Iqbal Town.

“We have also launched a drive to keep the city parks and greenbelts clean in a bid to ensure a clean and healthy environment for the citizens,” he maintained.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2021