15 hours ago
CM vows plantation on 50k acres
The Punjab government plans to plant 42 million trees on 50,869 acres under the Chief Minister Plant for Pakistan Initiative.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said in a statement highlighting key features of the initiative on Saturday that the provincial budget reflected her government's eco-friendly vision, with landmark steps launched under the Punjab Green Programme to combat climate change and promote sustainable development.
She added that 1.375 million trees were being planted on 3,790 acres of forest wasteland under the CM Agroforestry Initiative.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz highlighted, "Large-scale tree plantation and environmental projects are being launched under the Punjab Green Programme."
She said the scope of the Green Pakistan Programme had been expanded and plantation of 466.463 million trees on 251,000 acres was being pursued.
She added, "Plantation of five million trees in rows on 10,223 miles in the canal area of Punjab has been initiated."
She underscored, "Provision of world-class facilities for the promotion of eco-tourism in Lal Suhanra National Park and Salt Range are being ensured."
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, "A wireless network, digital cameras, GPS devices and CCTV cameras are being provided for eco-tourism." She added, "Construction of an eco-friendly certified multi-storey building has been started to establish a protected nature area, where modern facilities have been provided for the staff."
She also announced a Shielding Summits Programme for disaster prevention in the mountains of Murree and Kahuta with the recruitment of 600 fire watchers, provision of fire vehicles and watch towers.
The Chief Minister said, "Restoration of forest tracks and construction of tanks for springwater are also part of the project."
She added that a GIS-based protection system had been introduced for immediate detection of fire and encroachment with drone and satellite technology.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, "A digital communication cell has been established, modern monitoring equipment and additional staff are being provided to the Monitoring and Evaluation Wing of the Forest Department."
She added, "Digital tree enumeration in rows and a GIS-based survey have been started in Punjab."
The chief minister said, "Modern machinery has been purchased for forestry work. The process of plantation and forestry operations has been accelerated."
She pointed out, "Establishment of 104 Forest Command and Control Centres for 24-hour monitoring across the province is significantly increasing the capacity for forest protection."
Meanwhile, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Punjab government have agreed for financial cooperation for establishing an environment protection observatory, use of modern agricultural machinery and launching an advanced public transport system.
Senior Provincial Minister Marruyum Aurangzeb held a meeting with an ADB delegation regarding key initiatives. The meeting featured a detailed discussion on a 'New Country Partnership Strategy' for Pakistan.
Both sides exchanged views on Pakistan's strategic growth challenges and deliberated on promoting a transparent development process, boosting exports and investments, establishing a modern trade system, and ensuring efficient and transparent utilisation of public capital.
The senior minister said the provincial budget includes record-breaking projects focused on health, education, skill development and overall improvement in public life. A cardiac hospital is being established in Sargodha, while the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital is being set up in Lahore. She said new public health schemes included Clinic on Wheels, specialised mother and child health centres, and the establishment of new outpatient departments (OPDs).
She emphasiwed that comprehensive steps were being taken to introduce technology in sectors such as agriculture, industry, fisheries, dams and IT. For the first time, a Socio-Economic Registry is being developed to accurately assess public needs and base planning on realistic foundations.
She said historic initiatives had been introduced in Punjab for environmental protection, with practical measures under way to make every sector eco-friendly. The introduction of electric buses is helping to reduce pollution sources, while the establishment of the environmental observatory will enable effective monitoring of climate changes.
The ADB delegation offered full support for a modern, green and prosperous future of the province.
