PHA launches spring plantation campaign
File
The Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Rawalpindi has launched a spring plantation drive 2022 in the garrison city.
PHA Vice-Chairman Malik Abid Mehmood has said that all available resources would be utilised to plant maximum saplings in different areas of Rawalpindi city as well as alongside new Islamabad Airport Road, GT Road, in parks, government buildings, open spaces and Murree.
He said that the government's Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Programme (TBTTP) is aimed at making the world a better place for the future generations, urging the citizens to actively participate in the tree plantation drive.
“Pakistan has been blessed with weather conditions suitable for every kind of plant,” said Mehmood.
He recalled that the authority had planted over 300,000 saplings in different cities and other areas under the monsoon tree plantation campaign 2021, adding that the PHA was striving to renovate public parks of the city besides plantation.
The authority would carry out mass plantation under the spring plantation campaign, and all-out efforts would be made to achieve the target set for the 2022 drive.
The plantation was being conducted with the help of various private institutions, said the official.
Expounding on more details regarding a similar campaign in 2021, Mehmood said that the PHA had planted over 120,000 saplings on new Islamabad Airport Road under monsoon plantation drive last year, with more saplings planted at Fazaia College Nur Khan Base and sixth road.
“The PHA was striving to provide a clean and healthy environment to the citizens as per vision of the Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar,” he reiterated.
The authority would also plant saplings on Murree Expressway and in different areas of Murree under the spring plantation drive. The same would be done on various highways and greenbelts of the city.
Citizens and students of schools and colleges would be encouraged to ensure their involvement in the ongoing plantation campaign. “PHA will spare no effort in spreading awareness about the importance of trees and plantation campaign,” assured Mehmood.
To a question, he said that the authority was working beyond its jurisdiction and planting saplings in Cantt, Murree areas and alongside the new Airport Road, highways and GT Road.
He urged the citizens to come forward and play their part to make the spring plantation campaign launched by the PHA a success and ensure a healthy and pollution-free environment.
The VC said that Rawalpindi would be made a green city and all the government departments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and private institutions would be involved in the plantation campaign to achieve the desired results.
Mehmood said that Pakistan is among the top ten countries most vulnerable to climate change, adding that Pakistan's policy of combating climate change effects has been widely acknowledged in the world.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 23rd, 2022.