No funds for three Miyawaki forests

The Punjab government is yet to allocate funds for three new Miyawaki forest projects in Rawalpindi in the new provincial budget, sources in the Parks and Horticulture Authority confirmed.

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

In these two Miyawaki forests, 8,000 native fruit trees of Potohar region were planted. At present, all these trees are full of guavas, apples, glue berry, plums and apricots.

Former RDA chairman Tariq Murtaza had developed a Miyawaki forest at Rialto Chowk on the banks of Nullah Leh. Those trees are now 14 to 20 feet high. The second Miyawaki forest was developed at the Allama Iqbal Park by Parks and Horticulture Authority's former chairman Asif Mehmood. Both Miyawaki forests are dense now.

The dense forests help all kinds of birds breed during the breeding season. Small cages have been installed to protect the nests on trees. These cages are painted a beautiful wooden colour for the convenience of birds. They will also help eliminate the scourge of environmental pollution in Rawalpindi.

Sources said that the agencies were to develop forests in the Cantonment area, former Benazir Bhutto International Airport Road and Islamabad Expressway and their sites were also selected. But the new coalition government has eliminated these projects, saying these Miyawaki forests were unnecessary, they added.

Due to the current situation, this year's monsoon tree planting campaign is likely to remain traditional.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2022.