Provincial Minister for Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries, Malik Muhammad Asif Bha Awan has said that Punjab Forest Department has so far planted more than 43 lakh, 60 thousand saplings out of the target of 90 lakh under Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign which is 48 percent of the target. He said that the tree plantation target will be achieved before 31 December 2015.
He said this while presiding over a meeting regarding Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign-2015, here today. Senior officers of the Department were present on this occasion. The meeting was told that a target of plantation of 37 lakh 75 thousand saplings was set for government forests out of which 14 lakh 61 thousand saplings have been planted. He said that out of the target of six lakh saplings fixed for Education, Health and other departments, three lakh 87 thousand saplings have been planted. The Defense institutions have surpassed their target of four lakh and planted eight lakh 18 thousand saplings. Similarly, out of the target of 42 lakh 50 thousand set for private lands, 16 lakh 94 thousand saplings have been planted. The Minister stressed upon the officers to accelerate the pace of tree plantation so that the target could be achieved till 31 December.
The Minister was informed that under Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign, Forest Department has arranged 21 tree plantation walks, 15 publicity stalls, 11 lectures, seven radio talks, 16 anti-dengue campaigns besides 56 group plantation ceremonies so far.