NAKANA: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday launched the “10 Billion Tree Plantation Drive” in Balloki, Nankana Sahib.
The premier planted a sapling at the Forest Reserve in Balloki to mark the “Plant for Pakistan” drive. He was also briefed about the tree plantation campaign.
Speaking on the occasion, the prime minister directed that forest land given on lease in Punjab should be retrieved. “Forest cover in Pakistan is already very low as compared to other countries in the region,” PM Imran lamented.
Pointing out that there used to be thick forests in Chicawatni, Mianwali and Changa Manga, PM Imran urged, “Forests should be protected at any cost.”
“Seventy percent of Pakistan’s forests have been cut down in the past few years and it has created an imbalance in our environment,” the premier said. “We are now going to allow builders to build higher buildings, just so our cities stop expanding and encroaching on our forests,” he added.
“Ten billion trees will be planted in five years. Pakistan is the most affected due to climate change and the entire country will be made clean and green,” the premier stated.
PM Imran further announced that his government will create a wildlife reserve park under Baba Guru Nanak’s name and a Baba Guru Nanak university will be built in Nankana Sahib.
Earlier today, PM Imran took to Twitter and said, “We are launching our #Plant4Pakistan programme and reclaiming mafia encroached land, converting it into forests and wild life parks for our future generations to fight climate change and pollution.”
Deputy Commissioner Nankana Raja Mansoor Ahmed told APP, “The district administration has retrieved 2,500 acres of government land from illegal occupants.”
“A forest reserve would be developed on 1,500 acres of land while a Wildlife Sanctuary would be built on the remaining 1,000 acres of retrieved land,” the deputy commissioner said.