Going green: Half million saplings to be planted in capital

ISLAMABAD:

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) will plant 500,000 saplings during 2012’s monsoon tree plantation campaign. This was announced by CDA Chairman Farkhand Iqbal as he inaugurated the campaign in Sector G-14 near Kashmir Highway on Wednesday, a CDA statement said.

The civic body chief said that the authority is making efforts to increase green cover and preserve the green character of the federal capital.

He said that CDA plans to plant 180,000 saplings in the urban areas of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), such as along avenues and on green belts, parks, playfields and new sectors.

Moreover, the CDA chairman said that 320,000 saplings will be planted in the Margalla Hills and the Simly catchment area. Out of these, 200,000 trees will be planted on Margalla Hills as a part of the authority’s effort to increase greenery in the Margalla Hills National Park.

Iqbal said the CDA is focusing on planting indigenous species and fruit trees including Chir Pine, Kachnar, Amaltas, Dhreak, Jacaranda, Olive and Jaman. He said the CDA is involving the public, educational institutions, NGOs, government employees and traders to make this campaign a success.

Under the awareness campaign, poster, banners and streamers have been displayed in different areas of the city while bumper stickers, paper bags and badges carrying slogans for planting trees are also being distributed, the chairman added.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 16^th, 2012.