PRO
“If a Muslim plants a tree or sow seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as a charitable gift (sadaqah) for him.”
(Hadith from Bukhari)
The plantation drive is the deep-rooted concept in Islam, but newest trend and the future of Pakistan. This is something very near to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s heart. It is not only helping our beloved country by providing a green and breathable environment but is also building up Pakistan’s defence against the high climate exposure.
Pakistan Railways is having the vision of “Green Pakistan –Green Railway”. In preparation for the plantation effort, PR set up a network of 4 plant nurseries across its all divisions. The operational divisions of PR are Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta. Rawalpindi and Sukkur.Nurseries will also be started at Mughalpura Locomotive Factory, Islamabad Carriage Factory and Pakistan Locomotive Factory, Risalpur. Sh. Rasheed Ahmad, Federal Minister for Railways, is quite active in monitoring tree plantation adjacent to railway track stretch across all Pakistan. Initially four nurseries will be established in Rawalpindi Division in Margalla, Jhelum, Malikwal and Rawalpindi.
Railways would start its plantation drive on Sept 7 from Margalla Railway Station where practically 10 kanal piece of land will be planted with saplings. Thus PR will make all efforts to make the environment healthier. In Margalla nursery, initially 25000 seeds have been sowed, which will grow into healthy plants till next monsoon season. Later on these floras will be planted at various stations. Apart from it 3000 saplings are already present at Margalla. In last one month, only in Rawalpindi Division, 20,000 foliage have been planted, including pongamia, mulberry, neem, pine, kikar, Indian rosewood and populus. In Jehlum, initially 5000 saplings have been prepared, including pongamia, kikar, mulberry and bauhinia. Before October ,15000 seeds will be sowed in Jehlum nursery.
Till next year PR will be self-sufficient in its own saplings and trees. Sh. Rasheed Ahmad directed to take strict action against the timber mafia.
Pakistan is seventh on the list of the countries likely to be affected by global warming and has one of the highest deforestation rates in Asia. Years of tree felling have condensed the country’s woodlands to less than 3 percent of its land area. This plantation drive will also bring public behavioral change on effects of environmental degradation.
It will bring a lot of awareness in public regarding role of trees in climate change issue. Thus Green Pakistan will help in developing sustainable environment for our future generations.
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