RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: With a target of planting 300 million trees in three months, Punjab Chief Minister Dr Hassan Askari inaugurated the monsoon tree plantation campaign by planting a tree at the lawn of Chief Minister House, here on Thursday. Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) will also plant different kinds of plants and fruit trees in the provincial metropolis to help restore its natural beauty and grandeur.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Askari said the purpose of this drive is to motivate the people to plant more and more plants as trees play an important role in maintaining environmental cleanliness and overcoming the pollution. In fact, plantation of trees plays an important role in keeping the environment clean and green and it’s also a source of socio-economic benefits, he said. Similarly, it helps to control the environmental pollution.

He said the trees are an important source of controlling land erosion and helps in flood control also. It is our collective responsibility to take active part in this campaign by planting maximum number of trees. All the segments of the society will have to lend a helping hand in this noble cause, he added.

He said that ensuring proper looking after of plants after the campaign is also the responsibility of the society. Trees provide different fruits and shade to others; therefore, such plants should be sown which could provide both the benefits.

Expressing satisfaction that vast opportunities of investment are available in the provincial forestry sector, he said, “We should play our individual and collective roles by planting maximum number of trees to keep the environment safe from degradation.”

He said that maximum number of trees should be planted to combat the issue of climate change. “Trees are the natural sources of generating oxygen besides being helpful to overcoming the environmental pollution and the job of overcoming the environmental degradation is an important service to the humanity,” he said.

He appealed to the people to plant trees in their homes and actively participate in this national cause because trees enhance the natural beauty and provide clean environment to the citizens. This campaign will also be initiated in different public sector institutions so that the youth could also participate in this noble cause, concluded the Chief Minister.

Provincial Ministers Zia Haider Rizvi, Ahmad Waqas Riaz, Additional DG PHA and other officers were also present on the occasion.