Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Youth Affairs Usman Dar has directed all the divisional commissioners to prepare a comprehensive plan for carrying out mass tree planting through volunteers at the district and tehsil level.
A meeting presided over by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Youth Affairs Usman Dar was held to review the arrangements in connection with Tiger Force Day, at 9-Aikman Road. In the meeting, all the divisional commissioners were directed to prepare a comprehensive plan for carrying out mass tree planting through volunteers at the district and tehsil level. On the occasion of Tiger Force Day, ceremonies would be organized for massive-scale plantation through volunteers across the country including Punjab.
The meeting was attended by Provincial Minister for Special Education Muhammad Akhlaq, Chief Secretary Punjab Jawwad Rafique Malik, Secretary Forests Asif, Chairman PITB Azfar Manzoor and Commissioner Lahore Division Danish Afzal whereas Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam and all the divisional commissioners participated through video link.
Addressing the meeting, Usman Dar said that the Tiger Force fulfilled its responsibilities in an excellent manner during the Corona pandemic. He mentioned that to take maximum benefit of services of the Tiger Force in the tree planting campaign it has been decided to increase the number of volunteers and registration in this regard would open in the next few days through a mobile phone application. He said that the services of Tiger Force were being utilized in a better way in Punjab.
Malik Amin Aslam said the purpose of celebrating Tiger Force Day was to pay tribute to the volunteers for their outstanding services. He said that the government was providing opportunities for the youth to participate in the process of development of the country.
The Chief Secretary Punjab asked all the divisional commissioners to make arrangements for tree planting at district and tehsil level through volunteers on the occasion of Tiger Force Day, adding that a comprehensive plan should be sent within the next five days.
The Chief Secretary said that the Tiger Force is a useful human resource and their services should be fully utilized.
He said that planting more and more trees was the need of the hour to curb the growing environmental pollution. He directed the Secretary Forests that after plantation effective arrangements should be in place to look after saplings so that these could reach their full stature.
The Forest Secretary briefed the meeting that a target of planting 37 million trees has been set for the monsoon tree planting campaign in Punjab and places have been identified in different cities for mass tree planting. He said that 244 nurseries of the forest department have stock of 85 million plants at present.
