"Planting a tree is not enough to discharge the national responsibilities regarding the afforestation, but protection of these plants is necessary to give country a green shape," said Rawalpindi District Nazim Raja Tariq Mehboob Kiani here on Sunday evening.
He was inaugurating the monsoon plantation drive launched by the district government at Public Park.
People from all shades of opinion were present on the occasion and reaffirmed pledge to protect the trees for better environment.
Raja Tariq Kiani while addressing the participants said that entire world was facing worst form of environmental pollution and global warming. "Main reason of these problems is reckless deforestation which has endangered the eco-system of the entire world", he added.
It was a moral obligation of every Pakistani to play his role in plantation drive and make sure that the plants and trees were being protected, Kiani said adding "planting a tree will not help in arresting environmental pollution. We must grow trees for our future generations."
He said that district government, during the Monsoon plantation drive had set a target of planting more than 90,000 plants in schools, colleges, hospitals and other departments. "This target was almost attained through co-ordinated efforts", he informed.
He was told that there was a demand for 400,000 plants from the people which was fulfilled with the co-operation of the provincial government.