MULTAN: The first urban forest at the Bahauddin Zakariya University (BZU) was inaugurated on Thursday.

The BZU Urban Forest on 11 acre with 3,660 trees is a joint project of Lodhran Pilot Project and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Pakistan.

Lodhran Pilot Project founder Jahangir Khan Tareen inaugurated the urban forest at the university while he was accompanied by BZU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mansoor Akbar Kundi, Lodhran Pilot Project Chief Executive Officer Dr Muhammad Abdul Saboor, WWF representatives, the faculty of the university and other dignitaries from Multan city.

The forest has 3,660 different plant species including 300 mango, 1,200 java plum, 540 orange, 970 mulberry and 650 arjan tree saplings on 11 acre land on the university premises.

Addressing the ceremony, Tareen said Pakistan was one of the top 10 countries affected the most by climate change.

“In Pakistan, south Punjab is a region facing severe effects of global warming and climate change. I thank WWF-Pakistan for joining this pledge to resolve climate change in south Punjab. Partnerships are the key to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and resolve the climate challenges faced by Pakistan,” he said.

He said the Lodhran Pilot Project and WWF-Pakistan’s commitment to cooperate and contribute to preserve the natural environment of the country is promising. He said practical steps were needed for the creation of south Punjab province instead of press statements. He said he had no connection with any political party, including PPP.

VC Kundi said the Urban Forest was not the only project of Lodhran Pilot Project in the battle against climate change rather it had already grown an urban forest at Chak 100 in Lodhran on seven acre land. He said urgent action was needed to combat climate change and its impacts.

Published in Dawn, July 2nd, 2021