ISLAMABAD, Feb 6: President Gen Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz have stressed the importance of tree plantation and developing forest resources in Pakistan for meeting fuel and timber needs and ensuring sustainable development in all economic sectors.

The president and the prime minister expressed these views in their messages to the nation on launching of spring tree plantation campaign.

In his message, President Musharraf said Pakistan was deficient in forest resources as the country had forest cover on only 4.4 million hectares, covering five per cent of the total area.

He said demands for firewood and construction purpose were increasing sharply, and with a growing population, "we have to increase forest cover to meet these demands". He urged the NGOs, private sector industries, hotels and multi-national companies to join hands with the government in its efforts to promote forestry and conserve environment.

The president also asked the educational institutions to make the young generation realize the importance of protection and development of forest resources.

In his message, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said: "We have to play our role in global efforts to preserve biodiversity, arrest land degradation and mitigate climate change through expanding forest cover of the country."

He said Pakistan had signed various international agreements and was committed to mitigating climate change with a view to halting the process of desertification and protecting biodiversity.