Provincial Minister for Forests, Dr Ashfaqur Rehman, has said that Forest Department is encouraging private sector in various projects of the plantation and technical assistance and other facilities are being provided free of cost for this purpose.
This was stated by minister, while presiding over a departmental meeting of forest officers. He said Forest Department is planting trees on its land according to the needs of private sector and requirements of Chambers of Commerce of Gujrat and Sialkot have also been ascertained.
Dr Ashfaqur Rehman, said that cause of Sheesham Die Back disease has been discovered by the scientists of Gutwala Research Center, Faisalabad. He said that a ban has been imposed on the further plantation of Eucalyptus and now its plantation is limited only to land affected by salinity and water-logging.
The minister said that trees of Melbury are being planted in Changa Manga Forest because the wood of these trees is considered the best for making hockey sticks. He also informed that silk worms are being bred and silk of superior quality is bring obtained.