Our Correspondent Gilgit
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid on Tuesday launched National Tree Planting Campaign 2021 in Gilgit-Baltistan. Addressing the inauguration campaign at Chief Minister’s Secretariat Chinar Bagh Gilgit, after planting a pine trees at Chinar Bagh Gilgit, the CM said effects of climate change in Gilgit-Baltistan were rapidly affecting the entire region causing severe effects on human health.
He said vision of the Prime Minister Imran Khan was to encourage plantation to avert effects of global warming and ‘Ten Bullion Tree Tsunami’ was part of it. He urged the public to take part actively in the campaign to protect the country from hazardous environmental impact. The Chief Minister added that to make this campaign a success, the provincial government would provide all resources to the forest department.
Secretary Forest, Gilgit Baltistan Shahid Zaman on Tuesday said the GB government has set a target of planting 50 millions saplings in next four years. Giving a detailed briefing to the Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan at the inaugural ceremony of National Tree Planting Campaign Spring 2021, he said under this national campaign in the next four years, 50 million saplings would be planted including 10 million fruit plants in GB.
The responsibility of this project lies on department of Agriculture, Gilgit Baltistan. He said tree planting campaign in Diamer district would kick off on Wednesday while in other districts in the second week of March. The Forest Secretary said that 6.5 million saplings would be planted in Gilgit-Baltistan this year including 1.5 million fruit trees. He said they would do their best to complete the target.
He said last year the government had set a target of planting 100 million trees, but the whole campaign was badly affected due to lock down following COVID-19 spread, adding, only six million plants would planted during the set time period. He said this time they would avail all available resources to meet the target. He said that under this campaign 60 private nurseries have been set up in Gilgit-Baltistan so for. 50 more nurseries have been planned to be set up this year, he informed adding, Pakistan Army has given its full support during this national campaign.
Under Clean and Green Pakistan (CGP), spring plantation campaign was launched in Mardan district where substantial number of saplings was being planted on Swat Motorway.
