Countrywide tree plantation campaign from February 15

Inter-Provincial Committee on Environment (IPCE) has fixed spring tree plantation target as 53.35 million saplings across the country, which would start from February 15. The committee fixed targets for the campaign after reviewing previous achievements.
The meeting of the committee was held, here on Monday, with Federal Minister for Environment, Hameedullah Jan Afridi in the chair and attended by Secretary Environment, Muhammad Naeem Khawaja, Inspector General Forests (IGF), Syed Nasir Mehmood and representatives of all provinces and concerned departments.
The meeting decided that 20 million saplings would be planted in Punjab, 8.5 million in Sindh, one million in Balochistan, five million in AJK and 8.7 million saplings in Fata would be planted during the campaign. Objectives of the campaign were also highlighted during the meeting wherein all provinces including Fata, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan and other agencies indicated their targets for planting trees in 2011. Participants also gave proposals and recommendations for achieve the targets.
Speaking on the occasion, Hameedullah Afridi said that the objective of celebrating National Tree Plantation Day is to address deforestation and associated environmental problems being faced by the nation. He added that provincial/local governments will make necessary arrangements to make the campaign successful.
He observed that Pakistan is facing extreme environmental problems so concrete measures are needed to be taken, such as initiating different projects and plans. He urged that there is a dire need to increase forests in the country. He was of the view that forests are basically natural factories of observing carbon and releasing oxygen for the survival of all living things on earth. Likewise, they are playing vital role for preventing land-erosion, drought and flood situations.
Afridi stressed that environmental issues can not be ignored at all and they are committed to face this big challenge but support from all provinces and other agencies are required.
Expressing his views, secretary ministry of environment, Muhammad Naeem Khawaja appreciated the proposals and recommendations given by participants and assured them that their concerns would be given due consideration. He assured that full co-operation would be extended by the ministry, adding that to get results of the campaign 2011, involvement of all segments of society has to be ensured.
He further said that results can be achieved by inducing a culture and sense of ownership among the public for forest conservation and trees plantation through an extensive but systematic and organised campaign by involving print and electronic media.
Earlier, the meeting was briefed in detail by the representatives of four provinces as well as Fata, AJK, Gilgit-Baltistan and other agencies about the progress of tree planting campaign 2010.