KARACHI, Feb 10: The forest department, in coordination with the Lyari Expressway Rehabilitation Project, will start plantation of 30,000 saplings at the resettlement sites of the project from next week.

This was stated by Forest Secretary Mahmood Ahmed Khan during his visit to one of the resettlement sites located in Baldia Town on Hub River Road. The briefing was given by project director of the Lyari Expressway.

The secretary said that his department would extend all cooperation in making the rehabilitation areas green and environment-friendly.

He also directed the concerned officials to study the land structure and other related matters pertaining to the newly-developed settlements and prepare an effective and comprehensive plantation plan which could be implemented in shortest possible time and at a minimum possible cost.

He observed that turning these areas green and making the local population educated would create a feeling of better life and healthy environment.

He announced that nurseries would be set up in the areas to ensure availability of plants and trees.

The project director informed Mr Khan it had been decided that in future every family coming to the site office for the possession of its plot would be provided with a plant and a school admission form in line with spirit of creating an educational and environment-friendly atmosphere right from the start.

He pointed out that schoolchildren at the Hawkesbay and Goth Taisar resettlement sites, while celebrating the Independence Day last year, had launched a tree plantation campaign and a similar campaign would be launched on the occasion of the upcoming Pakistan Day on March 23.

Later the forest secretary and project director, along with other officials, planted a tree at the site. - APP