Green initiative: Plantaion drive starts in Abbottabad

ABBOTTABAD: The Abbottabad district administration and the local environment department have planned plantation of 539,000 saplings during the forthcoming spring season. Most of the plantation will be carried out in rural areas of the district and 500 hectares of land have been identified for this purpose.

This was revealed during opening ceremony of the Tree Plantation Campaign, formally launched in Abbottabad today under Clean and Green Pakistan Program of the Prime Minister. The campaign was jointly inaugurated by Ali Khan Jadoon, MNA, Amir Afaq, Deputy Commissioner and Arshad Javed, Chief Conservator Forests, Hazara Division, by planting saplings of different species. The other officers of the district administration and district government departments as well as members of the civil society also attended the function.

The speakers on this occasion stressed the need for making Abbottabad green through massive tree plantation that, they added, would pave way not only for the environmental protection but also for promoting tourism and generating economic activities in the area.

It was reiterated that common people from every walk of life would be involved in the campaign in a bid to create among them a sense of ownership towards the drive which would ensure committed participation and protected growth of the budding plantation, it was hoped. Deputy Commissioner Amir Afaq told the gathering that most of the trees would be planted in Bodla Gali, Kumar Bandi, Sherwan, Kasaki, Donga Gali, Bagnotar, and Chin Jaki and Sajwal area of Havelian.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 31^st, 2019.