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Plantation campaign

launched in Capital

ISLAMABAD: Margalla Hills Society (MHS) on Sunday launched a plantation campaign in which 3000 saplings will be planted in the Capital area.

The campaign was launched here in the beautiful Kalingar Valley. Talking to APP, MHS President, Roedad Khan said that during the spring season the society, would plant 3000 saplings including 1500 pines, 500 fruit trees and 1000 poplars in Kalingar Valley, Daman-e-Koh and near Shah Faisal Mosque.

He said the society has been working for the last 10 years for preservation and development of flora and fauna of the Margallas. The MHS has planted over 14,000 saplings, including 4,000 near Shah Faisal Mosque and 10,000 in Pir Sohawa, he added.

Roedad Khan said: "The success percentage of growth of these seplings is far high as the society itself takes care of them and has its own gardeners and water tankers at different sites to protect them in summer."

The MHS president said these trees face major threat from cows, buffaloes, goats and wild boars as well as humans in Kalingar and Saidpur respectively.

He said deforestation "is a big risk" for the Margalla Hills "and we need the assistance" of CDA and local people to check this menace.

Roedad Khan said, besides ordinary trees the society has planted many fruit, trees owing to which the monkey population in the Margallas, especially the Kalingar Valley, has increased which is a good omen.

He said "unfortunately, there is no awareness among the people about the environment, and the response of citizens of the twin cities is very poor which is really a matter of shame."

He said the MHS has made request to the Chief Executive General Musharraf, to return or open Dara Jagla, a charming valley east of trail No 3, to the citizens of Islamabad.ÑAPP