Environmental protection: Botanical garden inaugurated in Banigala

ISLAMABAD:

A decision has been made to launch a 641-acre botanical garden in the city by the Ministry of Climate Change.

On Wednesday, the ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC), under which the company will plant one million trees per annum in Banigala’s reserved forest area, near the offices of the Zoological Survey of Pakistan (ZSP).

Climate Change Secretary Arif Ahmed Khan and PTC’s Director Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Asim Imdad Ali signed the 10-year MoU at a ceremony held at the ZSP office.

Under the agreement, indigenous plant species will be planted by PTC under its corporate social responsibility drive.

Climate Change Minister Senator Mushahidullah Khan inaugurated the plantation at the reserved forest area site.

He vowed to increase the country’s forest cover from five to 12 per cent in the coming years, and urged the public and private sectors to join the ministry’s efforts in this regard.

Inspector-General of Forests Mahmood Nasir said botanical gardens are essential for research into informing the best selection of plants to withstand the changing environment.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 13^th, 2015.