Tree transplantation: Punjab government directed to prepare 'comprehensive' plan

LAHORE: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Youth Affairs Usman Dar has directed the Punjab government to prepare a comprehensive plan for carrying out a 'massive' tree transplantation drive across Punjab in the ongoing monsoon tree plantation season 2020.

Earlier this month, the federal government had set a target of planting around 200 million saplings across the country in the ongoing three-month monsoon season. Presiding over a meeting to review arrangements in connection with the Tiger Force Day at 9-Aikman Road on Friday, the SAPM directed all the divisional commissioners to prepare a comprehensive plan for carrying out a mass tree plantation drive through volunteers at the district and tehsil level across Punjab.

The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Special Education Muhammad Akhlaq, Chief Secretary Punjab Jawwad Rafique Malik, Secretary Forests Muhammad Asif, Chairman PITB Azfar Manzoor and Commissioner Lahore Division Danish Afzal whereas Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam and all the divisional commissioners participated through a video-link.

Addressing the meeting, Usman Dar commended the Tiger Force for fulfilling its responsibilities during the pandemic and said that to take maximum benefit of the services of Tiger Force in the tree planting campaign, it has been decided to increase the number of volunteers by opening registration in the next few days through a mobile phone application.

SAPM Malik Amin told the participants that the purpose behind celebrating the Tiger Force Day was to pay tribute to the volunteers for their services, adding that the government is providing opportunities to the youth to participate in the plantation drive.

The chief secretary said that a comprehensive plan would be sent within the next five days and directed all the divisional commissioners to make arrangements for tree planting at district and tehsil level through volunteers.

"Planting more and more trees is the need of the hour to curb the growing environmental pollution," he said, adding that awareness campaigns and community mobilization on the importance and usefulness of trees would be started soon.

The Forest Secretary briefed the meeting that a target of planting 37 million trees has been set for the monsoon tree planting campaign in Punjab and places have been identified in different cities for mass tree planting. He said that 244 nurseries of the forest department have a stock of 85 million plants at present.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020