One lakh saplings planted in city: Commissioner

Karachi, June 21, 2014 (PPI-OT): Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui has said that Tree plantation campaign will help the city administration to make the city green and peaceful. He was speaking at a seminar on Sarsabz and Pursukun Karachi (green and peaceful Karachi) jointly organized by the Commissioner Karachi and the National Forum for the Environment and Health.

The seminar was attended by environmentalists, non-government organizations working for environment, representatives of the industries and multinational companies, and the officials of the Forest Department and city administration.

Commissioner said that city administration is committed to improve the city and this campaign would help create awareness in the society for the need of a healthy and green environment.He further said that the city administration needed the support of the city society, environmentalists and NGOs which are working for a better environment as well as the role of media to complete this campaign successfully.

Commissioner Karachi said that during the campaign 3 lacs saplings are to be planted and uptil now one lac saplings have been planted already. He expressed his gratitude to the organizations and environmentalists who extended their support in strengthening the efforts of city administration in making the city SARSABZ AND PURSUKUN through sharing their role in the tree plantation.

The organisations participated in the campaign through planting saplings as mentioned by the commissioner Karachi Shoiab Ahmad Siddiqi included Armed Forces, Education Department, Health Department, Farmers, Sindh Police Razzaqabad, Trinity Church, KPT and Bohra Community.

Besides them the saplings were planted at the Mewa shah graveyard, Mewa Qabrasatan, Gora Qabarastan, Waadi-e-Hussain, Bagh-e-Ibne Qasim,Korangi Road 8000 and Khuda ki Basti. Commissioner has directed the DMC concerned to depute a special staff to look after the plantation work carried out in cooperation with the forest department at Korangi road.

Commissioner said that 30,000 saplings would be planted during the monsoon season which will start after the monsoon rains. In this connection, locations with the support of the forest department have been identified where these saplings will be planted.

Hopefully these would be planted next month. Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui said that various multinational companies, industries, semi government departments, banks have also encouraged the city government and have come forward to generously support these efforts through active participation in the campaign.

He hoped more organisation and communities will also come forward as soon as they are aware of the importance of this campaign. He said also urged support and volunteering efforts of students, which he thought was crucial to speed up the campaign.

He urged organisations, students and the citizens of the city to facilitate by providing any support they can manage including transport facilities to bring saplings , guidance to identify places where these saplings can be planted and to take care of the plants, properly. Chairman of the NEFH, Naim Qureshi, Aafia salam, Shabina faraz, and Dr.waheedQaiser also spoke on this occasion.

For more information, contact:
M. Shabih Siddiqui
Commissioner Karachi division
Karachi
4, Club Road, Karachi
Cell: 0300-2294020
Tel and Fax: 021-99206650
Email: ck.comm.khi@gmail.com