Battling social issues: HEC encourages universities to plant trees, contribute for dams

HEC instructs listed institutes to divert one-day salaries towards the Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has directed Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to participate in the tree plantation campaign and contribute for the Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dam fund project established by the Supreme Court of Pakistan to combat the ongoing water crisis and environmental degradation.

In a recently issued letter to vice chancellors, rectors and leaders of all public and private sector universities, the HEC directed HEIs to be an active part of the greener Pakistan movement by initiating tree plantation campaigns in their respective campuses. One of the primary reasons of instructing universities is to play their part in HEC’s resolve to involve universities in fight against socio-economic issues including water crisis and environmental degradation.

The letter reads, “Every student and member of the university should plant one tree to contribute to this effort.”

It advises that every plant should be tagged with the name of student or staff member who planted it and they should take care of plant for up to eight weeks.

“This will ensure better survival of the trees planted and inculcate a sense of responsibility in those who spend a few minutes of their day to nurture it,” the letter explains. Universities should allocate a proper place to each department for plantation, keeping in mind that plants will not be damaged during construction activities, advises the letter.

Referring to Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dam Fund being established by Supreme Court of Pakistan, HEC says that each and every HEI should ensure that a minimum of one day salary be contributed to the fund. Moreover they informed that HEC staff will also contribute to the fund.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2018.