Rights ministry marks 70th Independence Day by planting 70 trees

Trees symbolise life, prosperity and protection, says Secertary Rabia Javeri Agha

ISLAMABAD: Plantation campaign will be launched in all regional offices and the theme of plantation campaign is “70 years-70 trees”

Ministry of Human Rights in collaboration with Capital Development Authority (CDA) launched a tree plantation campaign in Islamabad on Friday to celebrate the seventy years of Independence.

Ministry of Human Rights Federal Secretary Rabiya Javeri Agha, along with representatives of civil society and officers of the Ministry of Federal Secretary Human Rights launched the plantation campaign by planting the trees at Rose and Jasmine Garden in Islamabad.

Besides, Senator Nuzhat Saddique, Zahid Mahboob, Director Training and Programme PBSA and a large number of street children from the Child Protection Centre were also present on this occasion.



Rabiya Agha shared that this plantation campaign will be launched in all regional offices. She said the theme of plantation campaign is “70 years-70 trees”. She pointed out that the trees are being planted to symbolise life, prosperity and protection of the environment.

Ministry of Human Rights considers the right to a clean and safe environment as a substantive right. The UN draft principles from 1994 refer to these in detail. It is in this context that environmental human rights encompass right to clean and safe environment as well as protection of environment.

Engaging street children was central to emphasising the relevance of marginalised segments in the development and progress of the country as a nation, she said. While congratulating all participants on the 70 years of Independence, Secretary for Human Rights stated that it is a dire need of time to get united and work collectively for the prosperity of our country.

“We believe that good environment and clean air are part of rights for a healthy life and therefore, linked to human rights”, she added. She further said we want to contribute in making our environment safe and healthy, adding that today’s campaign affirms that spirit.

She said that Ministry of Human Rights is already putting all out efforts for uplift of human rights and we want to work collectively with our partners in taking up any such initiative which leads to better life for a common man.



Going green

Separately, in connection with 70 years of Independence and 50 years of Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) Islamabad celebrations, QAU Alumni Association in collaboration with Muhammad Ali Saeed Foundation and Varsity administration would plant 1,000 fruit trees on August 17-18 at university’s campus.

Members of alumni association, university administration, faculty, employees and students of QAU will participate in this drive, a press release said on Friday.

It will be first phase of planation drive and each year one thousand more trees would be planted on the campus land that sprawls over an area of 6.9 square kilometres, the press release said.

According to QAU Alumni Association Secretary General Muhammad Murtaza Noor, this drive has been undertaken as a follow-up of memorandum of understanding signed among QAU Alumni Association, Muhammad Ali Saeed Foundation and QAU administration on 20th July, 2017 through which it was agreed to plant 1,000 fruit trees each year.

He appreciated importance of mass afforestation campaigns to reverse global warming, pollution, rising diseases and desertification. He said that sustainable sites have already been selected in consultation with horticulture cell of the university.

He further stated that in consultation with all the concerned stakeholders a proper monitoring mechanism would be developed for better sustainability and maintenance of the plants.

He vowed that the old students of QAU would continue to contribute for development and beautification of their alma mater through all possible ways.

He also invited members of alumni association, university administration, faculty, employees and present students to be part of this noble initiative.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2017.