Going green: Senate chief calls for environmental protection

Chairman urges the public to plant more trees to combat impacts of deforestation

ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani has planted a sapling in the lawn of the parliament house with the purpose of raising awareness for enhancing the green cover and promoting the cause of environmental protection in the country. Senators and senior officers of the Senate were also accompanying the Senate Chairman during this event. Speaking on the occasion, the Senate Chairman said that the deteriorating environmental conditions and burgeoning threat of climate change is a serious concern and we must make collective efforts to confront the challenge posed by this situation.

Sanjrani also called for taking concrete measures to lessen the effects of deforestation and emphasised the need to launch a national drive for planting maximum trees not only by the federal and provincial government institutions but by the general public to make this venture a success.

Furthermore, Sanjrani asked the members of the Senate Standing Committee to monitor the plantation drive across the country so as to ensure that millions of trees that are planted during national plantation campaign are being properly protected and preserved to ensure their maximum survival.

On this occasion Capital Development Authority (CDA) officials and Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation (IMC) apprised the Chairman about the measures being taken to ensure maximum trees as a replacement to those being cut for the implementation of the development projects.  He was also informed about the initiative being taken to preserve the green character of the city.

Moreover Sanjrani added that Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is amicably discharging its constitutional responsibilities to conduct free and fair elections. “ECP has been mandated by the parliament to carry forward the electoral process,” Sadiq Sanjrani observed. However, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior is monitoring the process and arrangements made in connection with ensuring foolproof security for the elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 21^st, 2018.