Japanese envoy hails PM for Miyawaki forests
Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Matsuda Kuninori has expressed his deep appreciation for Prime Minister Imran Khan’s initiative of adopting the Japanese Miyawaki planting technique in the country’s urban localities to fight environmental pollution.
The ambassador, while lauding the PM Khan’s vision for Green Pakistan, in a statement on Tuesday, said he “highly values this very fruitful initiative by the Pakistani PM of using Japanese style Miyawaki technique, which is unique and was pioneered by Dr. Miyawaki Akira,” a Japanese botanist and expert in plant ecology who advocated the value of natural forests.
“Combating environmental challenges is one of the priority areas for Japan and we appreciate the Government of Pakistan and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision for creating a pure, green and healthy environment for the people,” said the ambassador.
It is pertinent to mention here that under the Japanese Miyawaki approach, dozens of species that suit the environment are planted in the same area, close to each other, which ensures that they grow in a competitive environment, allowing the trees to grow faster compared to the normal plantation.
The ambassador expressed the resolve that Japan supports PM Khan’s vision of green Pakistan as this spirit was demonstrated by the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad by planting many trees in the compound of the Embassy as well as in the Islamabad Japanese Garden recently.
Last week, the prime minister inaugurated Islamabad's first-ever Miyawaki forest and kicked off the Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2021. The premier had launched the campaign in the capital as part of the federal government's commitment to fighting climate change.
A day later, the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) in Rawalpindi had come forward with plans to develop 50 Miyawaki urban forests in different areas of the city.
According to a PHA spokesperson, the authority has kicked off a campaign to develop Miyawaki urban forests.
The PHA is working on the project and under the first phase, Miyawaki urban forests would be developed at a four-kanal land in the Allama Iqbal Park and 10 other sites, the spokesperson had said.
Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab Asif Mehmood had visited the Allama Iqbal Park and inspected the work being done to develop the forest.
"All available places at the public sector schools would also be utilised to develop the forests in the city as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan," the spokesperson had added.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 24th, 2021.