‘Billion Tree Tsunami’ project echoes in KP Assembly

Opposition questions transparency of scheme;
minister says ready to take lawmakers to plantation areas

PESHAWAR: The ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’ project echoed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Tuesday as members from the opposition raised questions over its success and the use of funds.

Fakhre Azam Wazir of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) sought the details of saplings, which have been planted in the province thus far.  The concerned department provided details of the saplings planted through 28 forest divisions and claimed that the ratio of plant success was 80 percent.

However, the mover said he didn’t see where the 3.141 million saplings were planted in Bannu as mentioned in the answer. Mehmood Khan Bhittani of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) said that Tank and Lakki Marwat were not mentioned in the list that meant no plantation was carried out in these districts.

Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha of PPP said the House should be informed about per kanal payment on plantation.While Mufti Fazal Ghafoor of JUI-F complained that the labourers hired for plantation in Buner district were yet to be paid and most of the saplings planted in the district had withered due to lack of care.

In his reply, Advisor to Chief Minister on Forests and Environment Ishtiaq Urmar said details of the forestation was provided. He said Rs10,00,000 to 150,000 had been paid for per unit for the plantation. The unit, he explained, was from one to three kanal area.

He said the department was ready to take the members of the provincial assembly along with media teams to the plantation areas so that they could observe the transparency of the project.

The House unanimously adopted the “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Taking Over of the Industrial Estates of Economic Zones Bill, 2016’ and the “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ad hoc Employees Directorate of Information Technology (Regularisation of Services) Bill, 2016.”

Law Minister Imtiaz Shahid Qureshi, on behalf of chief minister, introduced the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Private Partnership (amendment) Bill, 2016. Deputy Speaker Dr Mehr Taj Roghani, who presided over the session, referred the issue of renewal of lease of mines to the concerned committee. 

MPA Sheraz Khan had sought the details about the lease right of chromite mine in Charsadda, but the department was reluctant to provide him the details. He said the concerned department was not providing details to the House.

Minister for Mines and Minerals Anisa Zeb Tahirkheli said she would ask the department to provide him the details. However, the mover called for referring the issue to the committee.

Mufti Fazal Ghafoor on a point of order tried to divert the attention of the House towards the dilapidated condition of a road in his constituency, but Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) dissidentMPA Amjad Afridi pointed out lack of quorum and the speaker had to adjourn the session till Friday at 3pm.