Urban forestry project to be launched within a month

Karachi will be the first city where the project will be initiated

KARACHI: The Sindh government will begin work on its Urban Forestry project within a month. Karachi will be the first city where work on the project will be initiated.

Sindh Forests and Wildlife Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah made the announcement while attending a dialogue on 'Corporate Social Responsibility' (CSR) on Wednesday. The event, organised by the National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH), was held at Karachi Gymkhana.

The minister urged philanthropists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the corporate sector to actively participate in the upcoming urban forest drive. According to the minister, the forest department has identified sites in Karachi where trees will be planted to promote urban forestry. These sites include banks of Malir, Lyari rivers and other major storm water drains.



Native plants and trees will be most suited for this drive, he said, adding that the initiative is being undertaken on the directives of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Shah said that a meeting had been held last week with various stakeholders including Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani and Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar to discuss the impending urban forestry initiative. The project will gradually expand to other areas in the province, he said. Besides, the forest department is conducting a campaign to vacate forest land in the province which has been occupied illegally, added Shah.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2019.