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| Ministry’s attempt to break world tree planting record |
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
By Our Correspondent
LAHORE
THE Federal Environment Ministry has planned to set a new world record by planting the maximum number of trees in 24 hours at Keti Bander in Thatta District on July 15.
This was announced by the Federal Minister for Environment Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi in a press statement issued on Friday. One of the major events of the National Year of Environment 2009 has been planned with a view to develop forest resources through international competition. This activity, on one hand, will achieve the national objective of increasing forest cover, and on the other hand, it will raise awareness among masses besides creating a soft image of the country in the world.
The minister said that in view of the global significance of mangrove forests, particularly in the context of the Tsunami of 2005, the GWR event will be held in the mangrove areas on the coastal islands of Sindh, which are presently devoid of vegetation. The specific site of the event is at Keti Bander in Thatta district, some 150 kilometres in the Southeast of Karachi. This is in accordance with the present government’s resolve to rehabilitate mangrove forests of Sindh by all means, in partnership with Sindh Forest Department, international and national NGOs and private sector.
He said that in this GWR event planned to be held on July 15, Pakistan is set to break earlier record of planting 447,874 trees by India in June, 2009. Three hundred planters will attempt to break the earlier record in 24 hours during natural light without using any machinery. This means that one planter will have to plant more than 1,300 plants from morning until evening. Special arrangements are being made on the site. The event will be monitored by independent monitors and adjudicators deputed by the Guinness World Record. In addition, media will be encouraged to effectively cover the event in order to ensure its authenticity at national as well as international levels.
Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi said that the awareness and motivation generated as a result of GWR event on July 15 shall be geared towards holding another event on August 18, 2009. This day will be declared as the National Forest Day and all segments of society will be mobilised to plant as many trees as possible throughout the country. Provincial Forest Departments, Capital Development Authority and National Highway Authority will take a lead in organizing this event.
The minister said that this is a voluntary and participatory initiative involving all provinces, organizations and individuals. He appeal to all national building departments, autonomous bodies, armed forces, private sector, academic institutions, NGOs, farming community and people from all walks of life to actively participate in this event and plant and protect as many trees as they can.
Afridi said that these two events manifest commitment and resolve of the government and the people of Pakistan for furthering the cause of environmental protection through tree planting. The saplings planted under both these events will also be counted towards UN Environmental Programme (UNEP)’s Billion Trees Campaign.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
