MULTAN: The Forest Department has set a target of over 8.3 million tree plantations across South Punjab under the spring season tree plantation campaign.
This was disclosed in a meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) South Punjab, Capt (retd) Saqib Zaffar, held here on Thursday.
Addressing the meeting, the ACS said that the threat of global warming increasing day by day due to declining forest in the country. He said that forests were one of the major part of this universe and the country was facing bad impact of the environment changes.
Saqib Zaffar said that as per global standard, 25 percent land must be covered by forest in all countries but in Pakistan it exist on only five percent land. He said that as compared to the neighboring countries, 60 and 33 percent of lands were covered with forest in Bhutan and India, respectively.
He stressed upon the need of more forest in the country to give pollution free country to our next generations. He directed all concerned departments of South Punjab to play vital role in making tree plantation campaign successful. He lauded the efforts of the Forest Department in making the forest.
Secretary Forest Sarfraz Magsi while briefing on the occasion, said that the Forest Department has planted over 2.2 millions sapling so far. He said that a target of 7.1 million sapling plantation had been set for monsoon season in last year while the Department planted 7.8 million saplings.
Magsi maintained that the Department had planted 84.5 million saplings in South Punjab during the last three years.
Later, ACS Capt (retd) Saqib Zaffar and Deputy Commissioner Muzaffargarh planted saplings at Kotla Sadaat while officers of Forest and other concerned departments were also present.