Keep It Green: Siddiqui wants action against tree-choppers

KARACHI: Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui has ordered the imposition of a heavy penalty as well as legal action to be taken against the builders responsible for cutting off around 250 trees in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.  Siddiqui was chairing a meeting on Monday to review the status of plantations in the city. The commissioner suggested special magistrates to take to task these builders for violating the rules under which no individuals are allowed to chop or prune trees, without prior permission of authorised agencies. The commissioner said that the city administration, as well as other departments in the province had been creating awareness that trees are basic barriers against pollution and cutting them deprives people of clean air. He said that the ever-increasing population in the city also demanded extensive plantation and not their removal. Local Government director Rubina Asif informed the meeting that during the ongoing Green Karachi campaign, a target of 300,000 trees has been set. Almost half of these have already been planted.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 9^th, 2014.