Wapda launches million tree plantation campaign

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Thursday launched its ‘One Million-Tree Plantation Campaign,’ which aims at planting one million trees at various Wapda projects in the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) during the two plantation seasons of the fiscal year 2016-17.

Minister of State for Water and Power Chaudhry Abid Sher Ali was the chief guest of the ceremony who inaugurated the campaign by planting a sapling. Wapda Chairman Zafar Mahmood, Member (Power) Badrul Munir Murtiza and general managers of various Wapda projects were also present on the occasion.

Expressing his views, the minister of State for Water and Power appreciated the efforts of Wapda for furthering the noble cause of tree plantation. He said, “Tree plantation not only helps in checking erosion of land in the catchment areas of water reservoirs but also lessens the adverse impact of climate change.

He hoped that due care of the planted saplings will be observed during the campaign.”Wapda chairman said that a sum of Rs30 million had been allocated by Wapda for plantation of one million trees during the fiscal year 2016-17.

Recommended species of trees, conducive to the climate of the project locations will be planted during the campaign. In the past too, Wapda has been planting hundreds of thousands of trees at its projects.

“However, this year, we have set a target of planting one million trees in the current fiscal year.” The chairman apprised that the life of Mangla reservoir had enhanced to about another one hundred years due to effective watershed management programme, successfully implemented by Wapda. Tree plantation proves to be the most effective remedy in this regard, he added.