Provincial Minister for Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries Mian Yawar Zaman has said that 12 million saplings will be planted during Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign 2017 starting from today. He said that targets of planting 5.85 saplings on forest lands, 0.71 million on lands of Defense Institutions, 2.22 million on other government departments’ lands and 3.22 million on private lands have been fixed.
He expressed these views while kicking off Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign (TPC) 2017 by planting a tree at Karol jungle in an inauguration ceremony, here today. On this occasion, Secretary FW&F Capt, Jehanzeb Khan, high ranking officers of forest department, representatives of civil society and NGOs were also present. The Minister said that main objective of TPC is to create awareness among people to plant maximum trees so that problems of environmental pollution due to rapidly rising population could be controlled. He said that people from every walk of life should realize their responsibilities and come forward to take part in TPC so that Punjab’s dire need of wood and energy could be fulfilled.
Provincial Minister said that apart from current TPC, Forest Department (FD) would plant saplings on 10600 acres of land in the shape of caboodle whereas on road sides, 610 avenue miles out of its developmental and non-developmental budget of financial year 2017-18. He said that stumps would be planted on 156 acres of land where 45.58 million new potted plants would be raised. He said that FD has established 353 sale points throughout the province for the convenience of general public, where 24.093 million plants have been made available.
Mian Yawar Zaman said that during current TPC, awareness walks, advertisements, radio programs and TV talk shows would be organized to highlight the importance and benefits of tree plantation. He said that at the time of creation of Pakistan, there was only two percent forest area out of total area of the province but now this ratio has been increased up to 3.1 percent which is still less than the required ratio. He said that it is need of the hour to increase the forest area by accelerating the speed of plantation process. He said that government could not achieve the said task alone and in this regard, people belonging to all walks of life should come forward and play their role in this regard.
Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Secretary Forests Capt. Jehanzeb Khan said that on special directions of Punjab Chief Minister, farmers would be provided financial assistance for plantation of saplings on 11850 acres of land under “Kissan Package” and in this regard, out of total cost, 70 percent expenses would be borne by the government while 30 percent by the farmers. He said that this scheme would not only raise the living standard of farmers and they would become prosperous but it will also help eliminate the environmental pollution. Later, the Minister and Secretary appealed to the masses to ensure their maximum participation in monsoon tree plantation campaign and plant a tree to provide neat and clean and pollution free atmosphere to the next generation. Secretary, representatives of NGOs, civil society and students of colleges and universities plant trees on the occasion. The Minister and Secretary Forest plant a tree and kicks off the Monsoon Tree Plantation Campaign 2017.
