To celebrate the International Day of Forests, a large-scale plantation drive took place in Rawalpindi and Attock on Friday, with 200,000 saplings planted to enhance green cover.
The initiative was launched at Allama Iqbal Park to restore the area’s natural beauty. According to an official statement, the district administration organized various events under the Punjab government’s directives.
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema inaugurated the campaign, joined by Member National Assembly (MNA) Tahira Aurangzeb and Provincial Assembly members Muhammad Hanif Advocate, Ziaullah Shah, and others. Senior officials from the Parks and Horticulture Authority Rawalpindi also participated in the event.
Speakers emphasized the importance of a greener Punjab, urging civil society organizations, students, and youth to take an active role in the plantation campaign.
Dr. Cheema highlighted that forests play a crucial role in mitigating severe climate impacts. He pointed out that rapid urban expansion and the rise of housing societies have led to deforestation, contributing to increasing seasonal temperatures. The district administration, he assured, is committed to providing a greener environment for Rawalpindi and its surrounding areas. He stressed the urgency of afforestation efforts and encouraged citizens, especially the youth, to actively participate in environmental conservation.
Meanwhile, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) also initiated a plantation campaign in Rawalpindi. WASA Managing Director Muhammad Saleem Ashraf kicked off the drive by planting a sapling at WASA offices. Director Admin Muhammad Umar Farooq, along with other staff and officials, took part in the initiative.
MD WASA reiterated the agency’s full support for the Punjab government’s tree plantation campaign, revealing a comprehensive plan to plant saplings across WASA offices. The first-day target of planting over 100 saplings was successfully met, and the campaign is set to continue in the coming days.
Additionally, the Rawalpindi Arts Council (RAC) hosted a “Plant for Pakistan” event, in which Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Culture Shazia Rizwan participated. The event aimed to promote environmental awareness and encourage citizens to take practical steps toward conservation.
In Attock, the district administration marked International Forests Day by launching a spring plantation drive to emphasize the role of forests in combating climate change. The campaign was inaugurated by Rawalpindi Division Commissioner Engineer Aamir Khattak, who planted a sapling at the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Agricultural University campus in Attock.
