Efforts afoot to increase green spaces

Official says urban trees can help reduce air pollution

RAWALPINDI:

The Rawalpindi Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) has been striving to reduce air pollution and make the city green, said PHA Vice Chairman Malik Abid Hussain on Tuesday.

During his visit to Melad, Katarian and other parks, he said the people are the real owners of the city parks and we as public servants are trying to provide more facilities to give an attractive and healthier natural environment to residents.

He implored citizens to come forward and play a role to make the plantation campaign launched by PHA a success. He added that urban trees could help reduce air pollution. “Every citizen should plant a sapling and ensure its care as well.

The PHA is planting maximum saplings and enhancing greenery particularly in parks and green belts of the city.” He said the PHA had launched a campaign to plant saplings and to turn the city into a green town, adding that the authority had kicked off the Plantation Campaign, under the Clean and Green Pakistan Programme.

“To encourage citizens and different organisations, the authority has prepared a plan. Students, traders, social and political leaders and civil society members would also be encouraged to participate in the campaign.”

Hussain said they had started planting saplings to make the city parks natural green areas under Rawalpindi green city project.

“Efforts will also be made during the campaign to sensitize the people to come forward and participate in the plantation campaign,” he said.

The citizens should extend cooperation for making the Clean and Green campaign successful, he said, urging the people to actively participate in the tree plantation campaign to improve the environment.

“The PHA Rawalpindi has also planned to develop 50 Miyawaki urban forests in different city areas. The authority has kicked off a campaign to develop Miyawaki urban forests,” he added. APP