KARACHI, April 20: The Sindh government has decided to lease out 150,000 acres of land, out of 800,000 acres available with the government in the province, for a period of five years that would be renewable for another five years.

The decision has been taken to encourage tree-plantation by involving the private sector. The land in irrigated areas would be leased out at a rate of Rs2,000 per acre and in non-irrigated areas for Rs1,000 per acre.

The decision was taken at a meeting here on Tuesday at the chief minister's house with the officials of provincial forest department. Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar, who presided over the meeting, was given a detailed briefing on the performance of the department.

The chief minister noted with concern that there was a declining trend among people about tree-plantation, while on the other hand, trees in forests were being cut on different excuses.

"The department should prepare a plan for planting trees and carrying out forestation on at least 100 acres in each district," Mr Mahar directed. The chief minister said the people getting land on lease would be allowed to carry out cultivation on 75 per cent of the leased area, while they would be bound to plant trees on 25 per cent of it.

He directed the forest department to submit a detailed report on the land available and the criteria for leasing out the land. He further directed that trees be planted along roadsides and canal banks throughout the province.

The chief minister said that the Swiss government would provide a one million dollar assistance for tree-plantation at the proposed Gorakh hill-station in Dadu district. -PPI