RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: With the onset of monsoon season, the campaign for tree plantation at a number of spots in the city continues in full swing.

The citizens interested in making Karachi green welcomed launch of the tree plantation drive as a large number of people obtained tree saplings in order to plant them at their favourite spots in the city.

The drive began under the aegis of Green Karachi Action Forum (GKAC) in collaboration with Act Karachi Youth Association, Billion Tree Project Karachi, National Forum for Environment & Health, Sobia Mansoor, Fizzah Shakeel,  Arsalan Mughal, Komail Zaidi, Nadeem Ashraf, Shahbuddin and his volunteers, Ambeern Jawad, Younis Siddiqui and educationist Ghalib Jalees.

The campaign was formally started simultaneously at the locations in PECHS Block-6, two spots in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Shah Faisal Colony No 2, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Abul Hassan Isphahani Road, Federal B Area, Lyari, Orangi Town, Kiran Hospital Road and Safoora. Experts related to forestry and horticulture, leaders, activists, and volunteers of said organizations were also present.

Initially, 1,000 plants and tree saplings are being planted at 13 spots in the city. The volunteers, activists of the campaign and concerned areas’ residents will take care of these plants in future till the time of their maturity.

The saplings for plantation drive have been donated by Abdul Rafeeh who is the custodian of Aladin Park, Karachi. 

A group of young people have planted 500 saplings at University Road and Kiran Hospital Road in an attempt to make the area green.

The volunteers have urged civic and law-enforcement agencies to take action against animals grazing on green belts in the city so that their efforts should not go waste. It is observed that a number of green belts in the city have been occupied by cows and other animals. They are seen freely grazing on these green belts at University Road from Jail Chowrangi to NIPA. There has been no check or policing system in place to guard green belt.