First Miyawaki forest, street library inaugurated

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam has said that one trillion trees will be planted this year.

He was speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the first Miyawaki Forest and Street Library at Rialto Chowk in Rawalpindi.

Fruit trees were planted in the Miyawaki forest, which grew up in less than six months, he added.

Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) Chairman Tariq Mehmood Murtaza, Vice Chairman Haroon Kamal Hashmi and Commissioner Rawalpindi Syed Gulzar Hussain Shah were also present on the occasion.

Aslam said that the Miyawaki forest covers 19,000 square feet and will provide oxygen along the roadsides, which has been built in collaboration with RDA and Clean and Green Pakistan. He called it a gift to citizens.

As many as 8,500 saplings have been planted in the Miyawaki forest, which do not need much water to grow. In densely populated areas like Rawalpindi, the Miyawaki Forest and Street Library is a good effort, he said. In accordance with the Prime Minister's vision, one trillion saplings will be planted across the country, including in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, this year, he said, adding that more Miyawaki forests will be grown in Rawalpindi.

Aslam said that the unprecedented snowfall in Murree was due to climate change and that more such weather changes can occur in future. An inquiry committee has been formed on the Murree tragedy and a report is awaited. The public should follow the advice of the Meteorological Department and other relevant agencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 11^th, 2022.