Long term schemes should be evolved for tree plantation: Malik Asif Bha

Lahore: Provincial Minister for Forests, Malik Asif Bha Awan has said that decision has been taken for the plantation of saplings of Eucalyptus, popular and other varieties at the banks of rivers and canals under public-private partnership so that besides overcoming environmental pollution, wood could also be used in the chipboard industry.

He expressed these views while presiding over a meeting at the office of Secretary Forests, here today. Secretary Forests Capt. (R) Javed Akbar, Chief Conservators of Forests from all over the province and other senior officers were present on the occasion. The Minister stressed upon the officers to include multi-national companies in public private partnership project. He said that a scheme should be evolved for three plantation at open places on both sides of the roads and it should made binding upon the owners of land to look after the trees. He said a formal agreement should be made for making this scheme practicable so that owner of the land and the government should equally benefit.

Malik Muhammad Asif Bha Awan said that according to the vision of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, short, middle and long term schemes should be evolved for tree plantation at public and private places throughout the province so that after approval, these schemes could be implemented. The Minister said that modern scientific techniques should be used for providing pollution free environment to the people and resources should be utilized for plantation of new trees. He said that people should be motivated to promote farm forestry on private land so that besides controlling environmental pollution, they could also get financial benefit. He directed that in future, no officer below grade 17 will pursue cases pending in the courts in order to overcome the incidents of wood theft.