Plantation campaign at Quaid’s Mazar

Trees are a blessing for Karachi, says First Lady Samina Alvi

KARACHI:

The planting of trees is a blessing and people should plant trees and nurture them to ensure that the country becomes green.

This was said by Samina Alvi, the wife of President Arif Alvi after she planted two saplings cheeko and jamun at a tree plantation campaign organised by Shehri - Citizens for Better Environment (CBE) at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi on Tuesday.

On the occasion, she urged the masses to shoulder the responsibility of making the country green. This she added was only possible if the people gave equal care to the protection of all plants and trees in their neighbourhoods and cities. Trees are a blessing as they not only help provide habitat to birds and insects but also protect human beings against the vagaries of weather, she added.

The First Lady regretted the public's lack of awareness about the importance of trees. "Many of us still have no concept of plantation and the importance of greenery," she said while reiterating that a'Green Pakistan' was very close to her heart, she said trees in our surroundings are also an easy source of calming nerves while birds chirping sound holds its own charm.

She said that the planting of more fruit trees in Karachi would bring vitality to the city. "I am always available for this cause as such efforts are needed in every nook and corner of Pakistan," she concluded.

A senior member of Shehri - CBO, Amra Javed, in her presentation said the NGO had been planting trees on the Quaid e Azam Management Board (QMMB) premises for more than four years with a major focus on fruit trees as well as indigenous species like Gul Mohar, Amalatas, Neem etc.

She said it was the right of the city's children to experience nature fist-hand, see fruits growing, pluck them and taste fresh fruit. She added that many of the saplings planted by the NGO years ago are full-grown trees bearing fruit.

Executive Engineer QMMB, Mohammad Arif, Shehri-CBE members and concerned citizens were also present at the tree plantation.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th, 2021.