FAISALABAD:Divisional Commissioner Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh has announced the opening of Pakistan’s first ‘Tree Transplantation Orchard’ to the public at Bagh-e-Jinnah in Faisalabad, where 166 mature trees, aged between 30 and 60 years, have been successfully transplanted from areas affected by the Metro Bus project.
The initiative has been launched in line with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s environment-friendly vision to preserve the city’s green cover while accommodating infrastructure development. It offers a new approach to conserving mature trees amid urban expansion, the divisional commissioner said.
During his visit to the orchard, Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh inspected the transplanted trees. Senior officials, representatives of the Pakistan Cricket Board, members of the ‘Save the Plant’ organization and civil society representatives were also present.
Congratulating the people of Faisalabad on the establishment of the country’s first tree transplantation orchard, the divisional commissioner described the initiative as a significant step towards environmental protection and the preservation of the city’s natural heritage.
He said similar tree transplantation orchards were being established at Kaleem Shaheed Park and Iqbal Park, also known as Dhobi Ghat Ground, where 59 and 127 trees, respectively, had already been transplanted.
Providing details of the overall initiative, Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh said 795 trees had been identified for transplantation from areas affected by the Metro Bus routes. Of these, 352 had so far been relocated to the three designated orchards, while work on transplanting the remaining trees was progressing rapidly.
He appreciated the efforts of the Horticulture Agency Faisalabad and the Save the Plant organization for their contributions to conserving mature trees and promoting environmental sustainability.
Inviting residents to visit the orchard with their families, the divisional commissioner said the facility would provide an opportunity for citizens to learn about the importance of tree conservation and develop a stronger connection with nature.
He emphasized that ensuring a clean and healthy environment for future generations was a shared responsibility, adding that the people of Faisalabad had demonstrated their commitment to keeping the city green and protecting its trees.
‘Protecting trees means protecting generations and culture,’ he said, stressing the need to sustain environmental conservation efforts.