Mass forestation: Deodar cedar saplings planted

SHANGLA: Saplings of deodar cedars were planted in Yakh Tangay, Alpuri in Shangla on Saturday. A large number of political representatives and officials of the forest department attended the ceremony. It was carried out under the mass forestation initiative.

On the occasion, Sher Nawaz, the chief conservator of forests in Malakand, briefed participants about the importance of trees and plants, saying they give off oxygen to the environment. He added they also help in stopping floods – a calamity the region is vulnerable to.

He said a group force has been formulated to protect the forests and newly planted trees. He also emphasised the need to plant more trees to keep the environment clean.

Shangla DC Dildar Muhammad, District Police Officer Rahatullah, Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Alamgir Khan and a representative of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Shaukat Yousafzai, also planted saplings. Alpuri Divisional Forest Officer Muhammad Amjad and Alamgir said three million trees will be planted in Shangla, out of which two million have been planted.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 11^th, 2016.