Urban forestry drive to start from Benazir Park

The Sindh government has announced that a forthcoming plantation drive in the province to carry out a concept of urban forestry will begin from the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Park.

The announcement to this effect was made by Forests and Wildlife Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah as he chaired a meeting regarding the tree plantation drive at his office on Saturday. All the concerned stakeholders, including representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and corporate sector, were present during the meeting.

He also constituted a committee for planning, awareness among masses and to take care of other aspects of the drive. The minister said that maximum species of shade and fruit trees would be planted, and asked all the concerned stakeholders to duly give their suggestions to the provincial authorities concerned as it would also be incorporated in the next budget of the government to promote greenery in the city.

Shah said that the government was in the process of formulating a policy to promote and protect forests in the province as once this policy would be unveiled, everyone would be required to fully abide by it.

He said tree plantation on both sides of the arteries had been made a compulsory component of all new development schemes concerning the construction of new roads in the province. Forest Secretary Abdul Rahim Soomro said the provincial government had been working on the plan to turn Karachi into an urban forest. He said trees of nearly three feet height should be planted at the available space so that there would be no problem in their growth.

President National Forum for Environment and Health Muhammad Naeem Qureshi said that his association would provide utmost support to the government to promote greenery in the city.

He urged the forest department and other relevant agencies to also lend support to make this campaign a resounding success. The urban forestry drive had to be conducted on a long-term and sustainable basis.