More than 2.4 million saplings would be planted in the Federal capital during the three-year clean and green capital programme. "Over 1.8 million trees have been planted during the three year programme which started in 2009 and this would be the last year", said Ramzan Sajid, spokesman CDA while talking to newsmen here on Monday.
He expressed the confidence that the target would be achieved during the current year as over 1.8 million saplings had already been planted. He informed that two plantation drives were being carried out every year during which 400,000 to 500,000 saplings were being planted.
"Our main focus is the survival of these saplings and over 50 percent survival is satisfactory", he maintained. He was of the view that after the construction of roads in a large number, trees had to be cut down but even then CDA and Ministry of Environment planted three times more saplings as compared to omitted trees. Responding a question, Ramzan said that now they were giving preference to indigenous species and for the first time about 100,000 fruit trees had been planted. He informed that educational institutions have been provided free of cost saplings in addition to the provision of one sapling per house.
The spokesman said the number of sale points being increased to facilitate people and make the drive successful. Answering another question about the start of this season tree plantation campaign, he said the Ministry of Environment decided the dates. CDA spokesman emphasised the general public to help the authorities to make this campaign successful so as to make the capital clean and green and environment friendly.