More Miyawaki forest projects in pipeline for Pindi

Officials say more forest cover will help overcome rising pollution

RAWALPINDI:

After the successful experiment of a Miyawaki forest project along Rialto Chowk canal on Murree Road, the Parks and Horticulture Department (PHA) and the Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) have envisaged such more projects in the city to overcome the adverse impact of pollution caused by vehicular traffic and industrial emissions.

Officials said that the RDA and the PHA have also thrashed out plans to grow Miyawaki forests and parks on thousands of acres of barren and uncultivated lands under Prime Minister Imran Khan’s “Clean and Green Pakistan Project”.

RDA Chairperson Tariq Murtaza told The Express Tribune that all saplings planted on the banks of Rialto Chowk have grown five to eight feet tall and the project remained 100 per cent successful which has encouraged them to plant more trees. “Therefore, more Miyawaki forests will be grown under the urban plantation project. Trees will be planted on all roads including Murree Road, Rawal Road, Syedpur Road and Double Road Shamsabad till September 15,” he said.

Read 17 Miyawaki forests at final stages in ICT

PHA Chairman Asif Mehmood said that during the ongoing monsoon tree-planting campaign, a record number of lush green, fruit and flower-bearing plants have been planted in all 55 amusement parks and recreational places in the district.

“More saplings are being planted in every local fruit park in the Potohar region and each park will have 500 to 2,000 saplings,” he said.

The PHA official said that many educational institutions and students were also planting saplings in parks. “The levelling of the land for Miyawaki forests has also been started. It will be grown on unused state-own barren land in Rawalpindi,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2021.