Sherwani Town: Students, residents plant 300 trees

Activity led by green NGO set up by PU students.

LAHORE:

Students and residents of Sherwani Town planted as many as 300 trees in the housing society opposite Nishtar Colony, in a bid to encourage green activities among residents.

Some 25 students and 50 residents of Sherwani Town participated in the activity from 9am until 3pm on Saturday. The activity was conducted by Darakht Lagao, a non-governmental organisation led by five students of the Punjab University architecture department.

Mateeul Haque, manager of Darakht Lagao, said the trees were planted after taking the town administration into confidence. He said all tree plantation sites would be visited next week. About 100 ficus, alistonia and conocarpus trees each were planted along the streets.

Waseem Sherwani, the founder of the housing scheme, said a similar activity was also arranged last year, but only half the trees survived.

“This time we have engaged gardeners to plant in a way that all the trees survive. I hope the initiative will help develop interest in a cleaner, greener surrounding,” he said.

Owners of new houses were also handed free tree saplings for them to plant, said Sherwani.

Haque said the students who participated were from the Punjab University, University of South Asia and University of Lahore. “With every activity held, there has been an increase in the number of participants. I think setting up a Facebook page really helped our cause,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 18^th, 2012.