20000215

Azim opens

tree plantation

drive in Sindh

tomorrow

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Air Marshal Azim Daudpota (Retd) will formally inaugurate the tree plantation campaign on February 16 at Sindh's oldest Government Madressah High School in Naushehro Feroze.

Presiding over a meeting held to review the arrangements for the campaign, Sindh Agriculture Minister Iftekhar Soomro asked the officers concerned to ensure effective implementation of arrangements to achieve the target.

According to the plan 10 million plants will be planted in forests and remaining 5 million in cities, towns and villages with the participation of urban and rural people, NGOs, divisional and district officials and people belonging to different walks of life.

Soomro directed the officials to strictly monitor the campaign and ensure that trees planted does not go waste. He hoped that people would play their due role in this national campaign and its cardinal objective would be achieved.

Provincial Agriculture Secretary Shamsul Huq Memon informed the meeting that 5 million plants from the nurseries of Sindh Agriculture Department would be available for distribution among farmers, general public, armed forces besides education and other departments.

The department has also arranged tree-like plants for sale in Karachi and Hyderabad. These will be available at very low prices.

The agriculture secretary said various programmes have been prepared to induce the people for participation in the campaign and to highlight its importance in protecting the environment against pollution. In this regard tree plantation functions will be organised throughout the province with NGO's cooperation.

Printed material, including banners, pamphlets, brochures, stickers, leaflets etc. containing technical information about forests and trees, will be distributed among people.

The programme also includes talks by forest officers daily for two weeks from Hyderabad and Khairpur radio stations. Pakistan Television will also telecast informative programmes.ÑAPP