CHARSADDA/MOHMAND: A spring tree plantation campaign kicked off in Charsadda and Mohmand districts on Tuesday.

The Charsadda district administration has decided to plant over 100,000 saplings under the Billion Tree Afforestation campaign.

According to officials, suitable locations have been selected to ensure proper care of all the saplings planted during the campaign.

Deputy commissioner Qaiser Khan accompanied by district police officer Salman Zafar, district forest officer Shah Khalid and other officials inaugurated the campaign. Officials of education department and schoolchildren were also present on the occasion.

Saplings were planted on the premises of the under-construction police lines in collaboration with the forest department.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, DC Qaiser Khan said that the only way to tackle the effects of climate change was to plant more and more trees and ensure their care.

He said suitable places had been selected for planting saplings and taking care of them.

Students from a government school on this occasion presented a tableau highlighting the significance of tree plantation.

Meanwhile, a spring tree plantation campaign was launched in the Mohmand district to promote environmental conservation and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Additional deputy commissioner (finance & planning) Mohammad Saqib inaugurated the campaign by planting an olive sapling in the lawns of Government Girls Degree College, Chanda. College principal Mahrukh Zahir Shah was also present.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Saqib emphasised the need for concrete steps to tackle climate change. He encouraged the local community to actively participate in the tree plantation campaign, highlighting the importance of collective action.

“The campaign aims to create awareness about impact of climate change and promote sustainable practices,” he added.

Mr Saqib said that the initiative was a collaborative effort between government officials, educational institutions and local communities. “By working together, we aim to make a positive impact on the environment and promote a sustainable future for Mohmand district.”

Other speakers noted that Pakistan was vulnerable to climate change and that timely measures were necessary to prevent the dire consequences.

The Billion Tree Tsunami campaign is a massive initiative launched by the government to combat climate change. Though it was initially launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2014, it has since been expanded to the entire country, including the merged districts.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2025