The year 2024 saw unprecedented progress in the forest sector of Punjab. The department turned Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s vision and mission of making Punjab green into a reality.
The flagship projects of “Chief Minister’s Plant for Pakistan” Green Pakistan Programme and “Chief Minister’s Initiative for Agro Forestry” resulted in exemplary plantation in the province.
Moreover, the department showed zero tolerance towards the timber mafia. Many legislative and enforcement measures resulted in a substantial reduction in tree felling.
Under the able leadership of the Chief Minister, the department enacted amendments in the Punjab Forest Offences Rules, Punjab Forest Depot Rules and Punjab Forest Transit Rules. A massive anti-encroachment drive was launched which resulted in the reclamation of valuable government land and later a large number of saplings were planted at the site.
Project Title: Chief Minister’s Plant for Pakistan Initiative
It is the flagship project of the government of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Under this project, 50,869 acres of forest will be planted under which a total of 42.5 million saplings will be planted. This project is significant in the sense that the plantation will be done on the barren lands for decades. In the year 2024, a total of 20 lakh saplings have been planted on an area of 2600 acres. As a result of this project, climate improvement is being created and the threat of environmental pollution is being prevented. This has resulted in creation of employment opportunities and economic development of far flung areas.
Project Title: Chief Minister’s Initiative for Agroforestry on Forest Wasteland
An initiative that interprets the government’s vision for climate resilience along with due consideration to the needs of the less developed areas of DG Khan, Rajanpur, Bhakkar and Layah. The Chief Minister is a great addition to the high performance of the Government of Punjab for afforestation in the barren lands which have been neglected for decades. The project was launched in August 2024. The project aims to plant 1.4 million saplings over an area of 3,790 acres. The highlight of the project is that it envisages conversion of arid areas into engines of agricultural economy. The project revolves around the areas of Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Bhakkar and Leh districts. This project will have multiple benefits. It will empower the country to fight the menace of climate change, it will save the cost of energy through solarization and landless farmers are being given the care of these plants on lease as well as for the cultivation of agricultural crops. So that they can develop economically and protect the forest.
Forest Protection System against Timber Mafia based on GIS:
In order to curb the menace of tree felling with the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and special attention of Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, the Punjab Government has launched a forest monitoring project on the basis of GIS and satellite. The Forest Department is trying to use the latest tools and technology of “Remote Sensing” and Artificial Intelligence to provide protection against forest fires and loss of trees by timber mafia.
SHIELDING SUMMIT - An attempt to save forests from wildfires:
The conservation and promotion of nature is a unique project of the government of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. In order to realize this dream, the government has launched a project named Shielding Summit to save the precious forests of Murree and Rawalpindi districts from forest fires. Forest fires have been destroying trees for centuries. The Cheyyar, Pines hill and Puthuvar semi-mountainous forests are the centre of unique ecological and biological diversity.
The provision of employment
It is estimated that the proactive steps taken by the Government of Punjab in the forest sector have resulted in employment generation for about 40,000 people. Department of Forestry 2024 at a glance
Plantation: 19.60 million
Area occupied (2565 acres)
The legislation: the Punjab Forest Offences Rules
The Punjab Forest Transit Rules, 2013
Punjab Forest Depot Rules
I’m modifying
Registration of FIRs against Timber Mafia (No.) 1361
Recovery of fine (Rs) 11,50,00000
Cases brought before the courts (No. 1184)
The number of jobs (40,000).
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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