KARACHI, Nov 18: Sindh Governor Mohammedmian Soomro on Sunday inaugurated a tree plantation campaign of Pakistan Steel Mills at Steel Town.

Karachi City Nazim Naimatullah Khan, PSM chairman Lt-Col (retd) M. Afzal Khan, DCO of Karachi Shafiqur Rehman Paracha and Nazims and councillors and PSM officers were also present on the occasion.

Pakistan Steel will plant 10,000 saplings on the 20-kilometre road between Steel Town and Karachi airport.

The governor underlined the need for improving environment in the province and said environment protection was as important as industrial development.

“We must learn from developed nations the ways and means of protecting our environment”, he said.

Appreciating the effective measures taken by Pakistan Steel for controlling pollution within its vicinity, the governor said that the PSM had emerged as a successful industrial concern in the country.

Lauding the project of Quaid-i-Azam beach developed on the coast near the PSM on a self-help basis, Mr Soomro said it would provide a recreational facility for nearby residents.

He also underlined the need for the protection of planted saplings and for creating awareness of environment protection among the public.

Naimatullah Khan thanked the governor for patronising the tree plantation campaign and said that this would continue for the whole year.

He said Karachi would will be converted into a greenland with the help of Pakistan Steel and other organisations.

The City Nazim said tree plantation was a virtuous act and during Ramazan, its return was manifold.

The PSM chairman pointed out that a separate department had been created in the mill which was responsible for the growth of trees and plants.

He said tree plantation was a round-the-year affair at Pakistan Steel and the employees of the mill and their families were taking part in this campaign.

He pointed out that cutting of trees was strictly prohibited inside Pakistan Steel and Steel Town.

The PSM chief said that work was in progress to develop the Quaid-i-Azam beach and this would be the best beach in the country on completion.

Later, the governor planted a sapling at the entrance of Pakistan Steel on the National Highway and also went round various sites at the steel mill.—APP