-Punjab Minister for Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries, Malik Muhammad Asif Bha Awan disclosed here on Saturday that the department has planted 2.7 million saplings against the target of 9 million saplings during the ongoing monsoon plantation campaign. The department has so far arranged 42 group plantation functions, 19 plantation walks, 11 lectures, set up 12 publicity stalls, 7 radio talks and 16 anti-dengue activities aimed at creating awareness amongst the masses about advantages of tree plantation.
Chairing a departmental meeting, which was attended by all high officers of the department, the Minister said that a target of sowing 400,000 saplings had been assigned to the defence agencies that has surpassed their target and has sown till date 607,000 saplings. Similarly, private sector has also crossed its target of 425,000 saplings and so far sown 778,000 saplings.
The Minister appreciated the departments dealing with defence and private sector on their performance. Malik Asif had assigned the forest department a target of 3.95 million saplings on government lands out of which it has so far sown only 876,000 saplings. He called upon the officers to pace up the activities and meet the target till December 31, 2015.