Professor Dr Bashir Ahmad, vice-chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), has stressed the need to increase forest area to make Pakistan lush green.
He was addressing the scientists and students after inaugurating tree plantation campaign in American Colony here on Sunday.
He said: "The forest area in Pakistan is only 5.2 percent, which is a matter of concern as it is insufficient to meet our immediate requirement of wood and timber."
He said that efforts should be made to increase this area up to 12 percent to control environmental pollution in addition to avoiding problems, like drought. He termed plants as the natural units to supply oxygen. Concentration of nitrogen was increasing in major industrial cities, like Faisalabad, he said.
The VC was also critical of the unabated cutting of trees and its use as fuel and said, "we should arrange its substitute, particularly for the rural population, in addition to informing them about the importance of tree plantation.
Later, he planted a sapling in the park of American Colony.