CM orders expansion of ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’ drive

Asks forest, agri departments to collaborate to make project a success

PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has directed expansion of the ‘Billion Tree Tsunami’ to agricultural sector as well.

Chairing a meeting on “Water Resource Management, Climate Changes and Billion Tree Tsunami” here, he directed the Forest and Agriculture departments to jointly use equipment and services for the project.The chief minister directed to grow firewood in different areas in addition to the Billion Tree Tsunami drive in order to preserve and conserve the natural forest, said a handout.

Pervez Khattak also asked for air-dropping seeds in inaccessible and far-flung areas of the province. He also directed for scientific plantation and constant monitoring to get the desire results.

Ordering to outsource plantation schemes on need basis, he said that this project was also a source of earning for the jobless and it gave equal chances of participation to youth and women.

He also directed to train the people through a mass drive for forestation.Pervez Khattak said that his government had made scientific management policy, which was being used as a launching pad for making the Billion Tree Tsunami drive a success story. “The government was looking forward for a plantation lab in the province in order to ensure environment and soil-friendly plantation in different parts of the province,” he added.

Pervez Khattak said that the Billion Tree Tsunami was the fourth biggest drive in the world.Meanwhile, chairing another meeting, Chief Minister asked the concerned authorities to ensure completion of the solarisation of tube-well programme of the KP government in accordance with the international standards with main focus on transparency and quality.

He expressed these views while chairing a meeting on local government LG affairs and ADP 2015-16 of district government tank here at Chief Minister House on Tuesday. Provincial ministers Muhammad Atif Khan, Ali Amin Gandapur, MPA Mehmood Battani were present on the occasion.

Chief Minister informed that Public Health Engineering Department has shortlisted some reputed firms for solarisation of tube wells in the province and directed the respective authorities to replicate the same exercise.