RAWALPINDI: A memorandum of understanding was signed between Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), Directorate of Education Colleges, Forest Department to make Rawalpindi Green under the initiative of the Punjab government.

Punjab caretaker Minister for Health Dr Jamal Nasir, Education Minister Mansoor Qadir and Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha witnessed the MOU ceremony.

RCCI President Saqib Rafiq signed and exchanged the MoU documents with the PHA representatives, Directorate of Education Colleges and Forest Department at a ceremony held at the RCCI offices.

RCCI Group Leader Sohail Altaf, Senior Vice President Mohammad Hamza Sarosh, Vice President Faisal Shahzad, President Small Chamber Tariq Jadoon, Women Chamber President Riffat Shaheen, Sheikh Hafeez and executive committee members were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jamal Nasir said that the Punjab caretaker government is following a comprehensive plan to make the plantation campaign fruitful in the province, under which all government departments and the business community are also being involved. He said tree plantation is a shield against the ravages caused by global warming and environmental change, and it has fully highlighted the importance of making the country green and clean.

Dr Jamal Nasir said that every citizen should plant more and more trees considering their social responsibility and the trees that are planted should be protected. He said he had personally been engaged for more than 20 years to plant trees and raise awareness about plantation through the platform of Green Task Force.

Caretaker Provincial Education Minister Mansoor Qadir said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi, regular targets for plantation campaign will be set and all resources are being used to achieve them.

He said that public awareness is very important to make the environment green.

He said that educational institutions, forest department and PHA will have to stand on the forefront and be a part of this plantation campaign.

Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha said that not only is it imperative to plant more saplings, but it is also important that every sapling is properly numbered and recorded to ensure the growth and protection of these saplings. He said that trees of at least seven feet in size should be planted so that their growth and development can be fast.

RCCI President Saqib Rafique and Group Leader Sohail Altaf said that they are grateful to the provincial ministers and commissioners for the visit to Rawalpindi and the presence of cabinet members and senior divisional administrative officers is proof of how much the caretaker government of Punjab cares about plantation.

He said that traders and business community would continue to cooperate fully with the government and administration and will continue to play their role in making the city green.

They said the divisional administration has achieved significant success in eradicating encroachments in the city to fulfill the long-standing demand of traders and business community.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2023