Plant for Pakistan drive kicks off across the country

Firdous Ashiq Awan says centres set up across the country to provide plants to people

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday said the government had set a target to plant 10 billion trees in five years under Plant for Pakistan programme.

Talking to the media after planting a sapling at the Pakistan Television Headquarters here, she said the campaign to plant trees was an effort of the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan to make Pakistan clean and green and secure the future of the coming generations.

She urged people to plant a maximum number of trees in their homes, neighbourhoods, and cities and make the campaign successful.

“Planting of trees is Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and a gift that benefits others in the future as well,” she said, adding that centres had been set up across the country to provide plants to the people.

Separately, Federal Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) Akbar Hussain Durrani launched the Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign by planting a sapling at the Pakistan Sports Complex.

The initiative was part of the ‘Plant for Pakistan’ campaign, said a press release.

Pakistan Sports Board Director General Arif Ibrahim, Ministry of IPC (Facilities) Deputy Director-General Agha Amjadullah, sports board officials and international and national record holder players were present.

On the occasion, Durrani said according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran and on the directives of IPC Minister Dr Fehmida Mirza, 1,000 plants would be planted at PSB coaching centres in Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, and Quetta.

The purpose of the ‘Plant for Pakistan’ campaign was to raise awareness for planting trees and what affect it had on climate change, he said, adding that the presence of trees was very important to keep the environment pleasant; therefore, an effective awareness campaign had been launched to highlight the importance of forests and plantations to make Pakistan clean and green.

Arif Ibrahim also encouraged the players to participate in the campaign.

In Faisalabad, 'Tree for Pakistan Day' themed ‘Aik Bashr, Do Shajr’ (one man, two trees) was kicked off at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) with national zeal and enthusiasm.

UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf and Faisalabad Commissioner Mahmood Javed Bhatti inaugurated the tree plantation drive at the campus.

The VC said 5,500 saplings were planted on Sunday on the campus with community participatory approach.

Commissioner Bhatti urged the public to participate in the prime minister's 'Clean and Green Pakistan' plantation campaign in order to fight emerging challenges, including climate change.

Gomal University Vice-Chancellor Dr Muhammad Sarwar also planted a sapling on the occasion.

In Lower Dir, Deputy Commissioner Shoukat Ali Yousafzai inaugurated the Plant for Pakistan campaign by planting a sapling in Pakistan Park Ouch.

District education officer, Wildlife Division district officer, concerned officials, and notables of the area attended the ceremony.

On the occasion, the deputy commissioner urged the civil society representatives, teachers, students and volunteers of civil defence to make efforts for achieving targets of the campaign.

Separately, Razmak North Waziristan Assistant Commissioner Sahibzada Sameeullah inaugurated Plant for Pakistan campaign, stressing civil society to make the plantation drive a success.

Concerned officials and notables of the area attended the inauguration ceremony.

The assistant commissioner said plantation would be conducted on the circular road under the campaign that would secure seven kilometers of the surrounding area from land sliding.

He said that a liaison would be developed with all the concerned departments to achieve the target of Plant for Pakistan campaign.

He also urged the civil society to participate in the drive and support district administration in its efforts to make the area clean and green. (With additional input from APP)