Islamabad
As many as 100 students of the Beaconhouse School Potohar Campus planted over 100 plants of Kachnar in a tree plantation jointly organised by the Islamabad Devcom Centennial Club (IDCLC) and Development Communications Network (Devcom-Pakistan) on Thursday morning at the Lake View Park in collaboration with the Capital Development Authority (CDA).
It was the second event of the campaign “Grow a plat, own a tree”, launched last month by the partners including IDCLC, Devcom-Pakistan and the CDA to mark the Lions Clubs International (LCI) Centennial Celebrations.
The Lions Club International 305 North 2 District Governor Sitara Satwat was the guest of honour on the occasion. The LCI District Chief Coordinator Tariq Mughal and District Secretary Amna Haider, the Creative Director Devcom-Pakistan Riffat Ara Baig, IDCLC President Shaaref Munir, and the Beaconhouse Global Perspective Program Coordinator Mahparah Raza were also present on the occasion to guide the students in the groups.
The CDA officers Abrar Hussian Shah and Raja Basharat supervised the tree plantation and briefed the participants about the plants and overall initiatives of the CDA to make the city clean and green.
Speaking on the occasion, the Executive Director of Devcom-Pakistan Munir Ahmed said, “It was not a normal working day for the students who came to the tree plantation event. They sacrificed their studies this day to prove their love for the nature and trees. The environmentally sensitised youth is the future of a more civilized society. The objective of the “Grow a plant, own a tree” campaign said the partners of the campaign are determined to engage teenage youth from different schools one by one to make them learn that planting some saplings is not the essence of any tree plantation.
The president IDCLC Shaaref Munir, an A level student, briefing about the campaign said, “Millions saplings are planted in every season of tree plantation, but hardly a few per cent survive due to lack of ownership by the people. They just plant saplings as ceremonial activity. We aspire to engage our fellows and mates to help grow plants, so that after a few years they shall own a tree.
Usman Chaurdhry, another student, said the government should strict steps to punish those involved in indiscriminate tree-cutting, and should encourage and reward those who plant and grow trees.
Jamil Hussain Shah, another Beaconite, termed the tree plantation a healthy activity. This kind of activities and interaction with the environmental experts make the students know and understand the importance of the nature for our lives.
Sitara Satwat believed that the concept ‘grow a plant, own a tree’ would go long way to educate youth about the sustainability of our environment. It would create awareness among the youth and other folks the importance of trees for land and its inhabitants. It is a good sign that students, academia, governmental and non-governmental organizations are working together for a positive change in our environment and society.
Devcom-Pakistan Creative Director Riffat Ara Baig said, youth is the hope of the day and brighter side of the future. Sensitizing and engaging youth in civic and environmental friendly activities would develop a phenomenal spirit of active citizenry. The success of the campaign depends on the active engagement of the youth in follow up and post-plantation care of the plants.
Haares Munir, the Campaign Chairperson, said that the IDCLC would continue to engage different schools in future tree plantation drives. The CDA, IDCLC and Devcom-Pakistan green partnership could be a role model for other cities too.
