Over 8,000 trees to bloom in first Miyawaki forest
The countrywide plantation drive will kick off from February PHOTO: AFP
The first Miyawaki forest in Rawalpindi has been planted with 8,500 plants on Murree Road Rialto Chowk. Following its success, the Miyawaki Forest Beautification Project has also been launched and it will be open for tourists and families in October.
Forty types of fruit, shady, flowering trees have been planted in the Miyawaki forest along Murree Road. These trees have now grown to six to eight feet, while dozens of these trees have grown to as high as 10 feet.
New modern grass has now been planted in this beautiful forest with small paths laid inside the forest to serve as pedestrian paths. Thereafter, a central entry gate to the forest will be constructed on which the Pothohar region’s culture will be highlighted.
Read PM inaugurates world’s biggest Miyawaki Urban Forest
Chairman Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Tariq Murtaza told The Express Tribune that the Pothohar region’s traditional fruits like kachnar (mountain ebony), sohan jan (drum stick), fig, plum, dried assyrian plum, grewia asiatica, olive, gooseberry, berry, phalai, pomegranate, beriberi, sang jalo, apple, patagin, guava, loquat, stone apple have also been planted. These fast-growing fruit trees will start bearing fruits in 2022.
He also said that the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce President, Nasir Mirza, has given benches for the forest and the government nor the RDA has spent a rupee on the Miyawaki forest. This green project has been developed solely with financial help from traders, the commerce and industry chambers and donations from Pakistani emigrants’ children living in the United States.
The RDA chief said Miyawaki is the best jungle technique. We planted this forest in the first week of April. In three-and-a-half months, its plants have grown to a height of between 8 to 10 feet. The recent monsoon rains have ensured their growth is even faster. He added that the forest’s beautification will be completed in the next two months. Once the growth of forest is in full bloom, the birds will return to the trees for which colourful wooden nests will be set up in the trees.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 15th, 2021.