GUJRAT: Students of various educational institutions will plant at least 10,000 saplings in Dhool forest in a single day on March 8 to mark the International Women’s Day as tree plantation drive has been kicked off across the district.

This was told by the senior officials of the forest department at a meeting at district government complex here on Wednesday.

Gujrat Deputy Commissioner Safdar Virk chaired the meeting whereas the officials of local governments and Principal Jinnah Public School Zaheer Jaan were also among the participants.

The meeting was told that an awareness walk would also be organised on woman day in Gujrat whereas the saplings would be planted along the main roads and on the premises of the government buildings.

The district forest officer said at least 90,000 trees had already been planted along the Sara-i-Alamgir-Mandi Bahauddin Road and to improve the environment, more plantation of trees was essential.

Meanwhile, the district administration has recommended the much-needed repair of at least 23 roads across the district and funds have been sought from the provincial government in this regard.

Four lawmakers belonging to the PML-Q – Khalid Asghar Ghural, Tashfeen Safdar, Raja Aslam and Ijaz Ranian – on Wednesday held a meeting with the Gujrat DC where deputy director development Jehangir Butt, executive engineer of highways Muhammad Asif and other senior officials were present.

The lawmakers identified these roads for the repair work after which the DC said the recommendations were being forwarded to the authorities concerned for the approval of funds.

Published in Dawn, March 7th, 2024