RAWALPINDI: The tree plantation campaign in the garrison city kicked off on the occasion of ‘World Forest Day’ with the target of planting one million saplings in the district in the current spring season.

The plantation drive will be completed by June 30, and the task of planting one million saplings has been assigned to the Forest Department, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Rawalpindi, Education, and Environment departments.

Deputy Commissioner Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema inaugurated the tree plantation at Gorakhpur Nursery on Thursday, along with students from schools and colleges, and planted 6,000 saplings in a day.

Mr Cheema stated that the target set for this campaign will be achieved in any case, adding that during the plantation campaign, the Forestry Department will plant 405,000 saplings in the district, the PHA will plant 100,000 saplings, school education will plant 400,000, and the Environment Department will plant 100,000 saplings.

He said that the district administration has already provided 300,000 fruit trees to the people free of charge under the Guzara Forest scheme, and in the coming days, more saplings will be provided to the people.

Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Director General Ahmed Hasan Ranjha told Dawn that PHA launched the drive in a nursery covering an area of 1000 kanals near Adiala.

He said that Gorakhpur Nursery will play an important role in the ongoing initiatives regarding ‘Green Pakistan’ from where large-scale planting of trees will be done.

The plants will be supplied in the coming months, and a variety of plants and grasses will be produced here.

Mr Ranjha further noted that the target was given to the PHA to make the garrison city green, and in this regard, they chalked out a plan to plant trees in every nook and cranny of the city, adding that the PHA was working to improve the condition of the green belts.

Moreover, from Gurakhpur Nursery, the PHA provided free plants and seeds to the people, so they will plant them in their houses, especially in the narrow streets of the garrison city, he said, adding that if every person plants a tree, then the city will become green.

Special plantation drive initiated near DHA:

Meanwhile, divisional and district administrations also started a special plantation drive near the Defense Housing Authority (DHA) near the Soan River by planting saplings.

The students and citizens from all walks of life participated in large numbers.

Commissioner Aamir Khattak said that in Rawalpindi and Chaklala Cantonment, large-scale saplings will be planted under the ‘Plant for Green Pakistan’ campaign.

Mr Khattak said that all the institutions should work together to make the plantation campaign successful.

He stressed to involve the private sector in the campaign and further added that banners should be displayed everywhere to raise awareness among citizens about this plantation campaign.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2024