PESHAWAR:Dr. Jasper Wieck, Special Representative of the Federal Government of Germany for Afghanistan and Pakistan and Muhammad Abbas Khan, Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Wednesday inaugurated Green Community Events of afforestation at Khazana Afghan Refugees Village Peshawar.
The two Green Community Events were implemented in collaboration with the Forest Department under the Ten billion Tsunami Tree Plantation Program. Saplings of guava, olive, loquat, apricot and other fruit bearing species were planted during the green events.
Dr. Philipp Deichmann, Deputy Head of Mission German Embassy Islamabad, Andreas Wutz, First Secretary German Embassy Islamabad, Ms. Heidi Herrmann, Principal Advisor of the SSARC Project, Fakher e Alam, Chief Coordinator Refugee and Host Affected Areas (RAHA), and officials of the forest department were also present on the occasion.
Dr. Jasper Wieck inaugurated the drive by planting the sapling of guava near the health unit at the Afghan refugee camp of Khazana where the two Green Community Events of Plantation through Miyawaki Technique of afforestation were set up in a total area of three Kanal by the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (CAR-KP) through its project SSCSWAHC.
Talking to media persons after inauguration of the plantation events, the Commissioner for Afghan Refugees Muhammad Abbas Khan said that the initiative of the incumbent government of Pakistan to plant ten billion trees has helped the region to counter effects of global warming and climate change.
He further mentioned that the plantation was aimed at promoting green environment and to provide the local community with livelihood opportunities through developing a culture of nursery raising at Afghan refugee camps. He further noted that the plantation drive would be extended to other refugee camps as well.
Muhammad Abbas Khan thanked the German Cooperation for the support to make all this possible at refugee camps as well as for other initiatives being conducted for Afghan refugees and host communities.
Later, Dr. Jasper Wieck and Mr. Muhammad Abbas Khan visited the Safe Space of Khazana and interacted with young people from Afghan refugees and host communities during a training session of the SSARC project that was organized to develop a communication platform to facilitate the social interaction between the young people from the two communities.