A one-day massive tree plantation campaign "Tree for Pakistan" started on Sunday to plant more than 1.5 million saplings across the country as part of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government's ten billion tree Tsunami drive. Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said that 10 billion trees will be planted over the next five years and this is only possible when the people of Pakistan starts owing this project for better and greener future of Pakistan.
He said that today, over 1.5 million trees planted in all districts of the county, adding that the tree plantation drive that was started from KP will now be expanded all across the county. He said that more than 200 events were held nationwide, while 190 plants distribution points was established for the people to get saplings for plantation.
Malik Amin said that it was the only option to compete the challenges of climate change in the country. Currently forest cover was declining due to deforestation, he added. He said that one billion trees project was successfully implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding that federal government launched 10 billion trees Tsunami project nationwide.
In a video message, the Advisor to the PM said that government also launched a plant4Pakistan Facebook page to engage general public and achieve the target of planting 10 billion trees in the next five years. He said that government also initiated Plant for Pakistan Challenge in which people directed to plant a sapling and take selfie with the plant. Later, message that selfie to official plant4Pakistan page on facebook. Top three selfies with the most likes get exclusive autographed cricket bats from Prime Minister of Pakistan, he said.
Amin Aslam said the main focus of the campaign was to plant tree massively on September 2. He said the Billion Tree Tsunami was a successful story in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which was recognized both at the national and international levels and that programme had to be spread across the country. He said "If we will not plant trees then our survival will become difficult."
The Advisor said that because of climate changes some of the regions of the world which include Pakistan also will become dead zones if timely measures will not be taken. He said, forestation plays an important role in bringing more rains, increases water resources which results in bringing up under ground water level.
Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI), Capital Development Authority (CDA) and National Highway Authority (NHA) also planted more than 40,000 thousands saplings in various parts of the city including Parade Ground Islamabad, Airport Road and Quaid-e-Azam University.
A large number of people from different walks of life also took part in the massive plantation drive. Similarly, in all four provinces including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir tree plantation drive conducted. More than 200 events were held in all major cities across the country. Students of various universities, school and colleges also participated in one day tree plantation drive.