PHA to plant 50,000 saplings

The Parks and Horticulture Authority has come up with a tree planting plan on the banks of Rawalpindi’s Nullah Leh.

Seeds of locally grown plants in over 50,000 soil balls will be planted along the banks.

The soil balls will be thrown over a 14 kms stretch and the tree-planting process will extend to Soan River.

The PHA officials said that this is a unique method of tree planting being practiced elsewhere in the world and Karachi and Lahore.

They said PHA staff had prepared over 50,000 soil balls in this respect.

Read 2.2m saplings to be planted in Rawalpindi: official

Each soil ball contains three to four seeds which are of locally grown plants. The seed balls to be planted are mostly mulberry, pine, cactus, mango, and other eco-friendly plants.

The PHA staff will throw the prepared clay balls along the banks of the 14 km stretch of Leh Nullah till Soan River.

Officials said the banks of the Leh are fertile but look ugly owing to the lack of trees. The campaign will help trees sprout along the banks making the 14 kms stretch lush green, but also provide clean air to the people living in the surrounding area and significantly reduce temperature.

PHA officials said on the occasion that they would seek special help from botanists to ensure the plan’s success.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2021.