100,000 trees to be planted in District Central by 2017 end, says DMC chairperson

Speakers at seminar stress need for plantation in the city

KARACHI: District Municipal Corporation (DMC) Central has devised a plan to gradually replace existing conocarpus erectus - a mangrove plant species that is deemed harmful to Karachi's environment - with an environment-friendly tree species.

This was stated by DMC Central Chairperson Rehan Hashmi on Monday at a seminar on environmental protection at the Karachi Medical and Dental College (KMDC).

Hashmi informed the audience that around 100,000 trees and plants would have been planted in the district by December, 2017, out of which 8,000 saplings have already been planted.



Four water tankers have been procured by District Central to water trees in the district, the chairperson said, adding that the DMC would supply around 20,000 gallons of water daily to conduct plantation drive in the district. Hashmi said DMC Central is looking after 150 parks, out of which beautification of 37 parks has been completed.

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Mayor Dr Arshad Abdullah Vohra lamented the lack of resources to the city's administration for sanitation and waste disposal. Karachi generates 12,000 tons municipal garbage on a daily basis out of which only 4,000 is disposed of, he said.

Karachi requires plantation of another 20 million trees, said Senator Khushbakht Shujaat. A campaign should be launched to spread awareness among children to properly dispose of waste, she suggested.



National Forum for Environment and Health President Naeem Qureshi bemoaned the fact that the city was deprived of around 15,000 plants and trees in the last five years due to poorly planned mega civic projects, including reconstruction of major roads. Every concerned quarter in the city should come forward to prevent tree cutting for the sake of civic development, he said.

Environmentalist Rafiul Haq on the occasion gave suggestions to safeguard the environment of the city, while youth parliament president Rizwan Jaffar stressed the need for motivating youth to actively take part in the plantation drive in Karachi.

In his concluding remarks, Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Khawaja Izharul Hassan promised that he would actively take part in the plantation drive in DMC Central. It is obligatory upon every individual and institution in the city to take practical steps in order to make the city clean and green, he summed up.

100 saplings planted during SEPA plantation drive