KATI, Hoora Pharma partner to plant 100,000 trees across Pakistan

They aim to combine their efforts in promoting climate action, corporate responsibility

The Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) has entered into a collaboration with Hoora Pharma to undertake a large-scale tree plantation campaign across Pakistan. Under this agreement, both organizations aim to plant 100,000 trees to bolster environmental resilience and promote a greener future.

The formal commitment was sealed via a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Junaid Naqi Allahwala, President of KATI, and Abdul Rasheed Chohan, President & CEO of Hoora Pharma. Through this partnership, they aim to combine their efforts in promoting climate action and corporate responsibility.

Allahwala emphasised during the signing event that KATI views this initiative as part of its ongoing social responsibility efforts. He noted that industrial and commercial bodies have a role to play beyond their core businesses, such as supporting ecological restoration and sustainable development. According to him, this venture demonstrates how the private sector can actively contribute to Pakistan’s environmental goals.

Abdul Rasheed Chohan reaffirmed his company’s resolve to support sustainability and said that planting 100,000 trees is more than a symbolic act. He argued that such a campaign has the potential to improve air quality, restore ecological balance, and encourage other organizations to adopt similar green projects. He framed the drive as an opportunity for collective impact: not only beneficial to nature, but also as a model for socially conscious industry practices.

Read: Afforestation efforts needed to save mangrove forests

This joint initiative underscores the notion that addressing climate change requires a unified effort. By mobilizing resources and expertise from both industry associations and pharmaceutical enterprises, KATI and Hoora Pharma aim to push forward reforestation and habitat restoration. They hope that this program will not only yield environmental dividends such as carbon absorption, soil protection, and biodiversity support but also serve as a catalyst, inspiring additional partnerships in the public and private spheres.

In June this year, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said in a statement that the provincial budget reflected her government's eco-friendly vision, with landmark steps launched under the Punjab Green Programme to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.

She added that 1.375 million trees were being planted on 3,790 acres of forest wasteland under the CM Agroforestry Initiative.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz highlighted, "Large-scale tree plantation and environmental projects are being launched under the Punjab Green Programme."

She said the scope of the Green Pakistan Programme had been expanded and plantation of 466.463 million trees on 251,000 acres was being pursued.

She added, "Plantation of five million trees in rows on 10,223 miles in the canal area of Punjab has been initiated."

She underscored, "Provision of world-class facilities for the promotion of eco-tourism in Lal Suhanra National Park and Salt Range is being ensured."

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, "A wireless network, digital cameras, GPS devices and CCTV cameras are being provided for eco-tourism." She added, "Construction of an eco-friendly certified multi-storey building has started to establish a protected nature area, where modern facilities have been provided for the staff."

She also announced a Shielding Summits Programme for disaster prevention in the mountains of Murree and Kahuta with the recruitment of 600 fire watchers, provision of fire vehicles and watch towers.

Read More: Spring plantation under way at 300 places

The Chief Minister said, "Restoration of forest tracks and construction of tanks for springwater are also part of the project." She added that a GIS-based protection system had been introduced for immediate detection of fire and encroachment with drone and satellite technology.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, "A digital communication cell has been established, modern monitoring equipment and additional staff are being provided to the Monitoring and Evaluation Wing of the Forest Department."

She added, "Digital tree enumeration in rows and a GIS-based survey have been started in Punjab."

The chief minister said, "Modern machinery has been purchased for forestry work. The process of plantation and forestry operations has been accelerated."

She pointed out, "Establishment of 104 Forest Command and Control Centres for 24-hour monitoring across the province is significantly increasing the capacity for forest protection."

Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Punjab government have agreed for financial cooperation for establishing an environmental protection observatory, the use of modern agricultural machinery and launching an advanced public transport system.