LAHORE: The Punjab Forest Department (PFD) on Tuesday hosted a massive plantation drive in which 10,000 saplings were planted in a single day in Karol area of the provincial metropolis, symbolizing seeds of love, service and faith in a greener future.
The man behind this initiative was Ghulam Rasool from Pakpattan, the land of Baba Farid, known for its humility, devotion, and spirituality. Rasool not only donated all 10,000 saplings but also provided financial assistance for their maintenance, turning a personal act of kindness into a community movement.
The plantation was made across 14 acres of forest land, weaving a new chapter of hope and revival, said Majid Shamrez, Divisional Forest Officer Publicity and Extension. Parliamentary Secretary Forest Kanwal Liaquat, DG Forests and other senior officials also attended the ceremony.
He said what months ago as a dream during the Friends of Forest Conference in Lahore took shape today as reality, a massive plantation drive. Those who witnessed him at work said it felt as though he wasn’t merely planting trees, he was entrusting his soul to the soil.
A senior officer from the Forest Department remarked: “This forest will not only provide shade and oxygen, but it will stand as a living example of how one person’s resolve, joined by the hands of many, can transform the land.
The plantation site brimmed with enthusiasm. College students, local youth, elderly citizens, and women stood in rows, shovels in hand, tying a new bond with their land. The saplings they planted today will one day offer shade to their children, purify the air, and strengthen the soil beneath their feet.
Speaking on this occasion, Ghulam Rasool said: “I’ve come from Pakpattan — the land of Baba Farid — where once every home had a tree and every prayer sought shade. This is my humble gift to my Creator, my homeland, and future generations. If every Pakistani plants even one true tree, this nation will breathe again.”
The Punjab Forest Department announced that the newly planted 14-acre tract will be developed as a community green reserve to be protected and maintained by local residents, youth, and volunteers.
Environmental experts have hailed the initiative as a milestone in Lahore’s ecological history — a shining example of how collective action and compassion can breathe life back into the earth.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025