National Institute of Management (NIM) Karachi, partnering with Community Policing Karachi (CPK), launched an ambitious plantation drive on Saturday, gathering senior officials and civil society leaders to promote urban greenery. The event was attended by notable figures, including DG NIM Dr. Syed Saif ur Rehman, Additional IG Sindh Javed Alam Odho, DIG Tabassum Abid, DIG Sheeba Shah, CPK Chief Murad Ali Soni, Secretary Arts Council Prof. Ijaz Farooqi, Dr. Farhan Essa of Essa Laboratory, and other prominent personalities. Dr. Saif ur Rehman expressed concern over Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change, despite its minimal contribution to global emissions. “Pakistan remains one of the countries most affected by climate change,” he stated, urging for extensive tree planting as a vital step to reduce its impact. Dr. Saif pledged to transform NIM into the “lungs of the city” by increasing green spaces on its grounds, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in ecosystem restoration. Dr. Saif commended Murad Soni and his CPk team for their dedication to Karachi’s environment and urged media, academia, and civil society to join in this mission to protect natural resources.
Additional IG Sindh Javed Alam Odho, emphasizing the link between a healthy environment and public safety, noted, “A healthy society is essential for peace and law and order.” He called for accelerated efforts in climate adaptation and highlighted recent tree-planting initiatives at Police Headquarters, encouraging citizens to contribute through individual action in reducing carbon footprints. Responding to questions about environmental enforcement, Odho suggested awareness campaigns over criminalizing deforestation. Instead, he recommended that relevant bodies like the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) enforce fines to curb deforestation, with academic and media sectors leading in public education. CPk Chief Murad Soni echoed these sentiments, reiterating his commitment to a greener, safer Karachi. He described CPk’s successful tree-planting projects along the Lyari Expressway and shared updates on surveillance initiatives, where CPk has collaborated with Karachi police to install cameras in key areas to enhance urban security.
