The Punjab government has rolled out an ambitious tree plantation campaign under the “Chief Minister Plant for Pakistan” initiative, aiming to cover 48,368 acres with saplings. Senior Minister Maryam Aurangzeb, leading the effort, stated that under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, the goal is to plant 42.5 million trees across the province.
For the fiscal year 2024-25, 7.361 million trees are to be planted on 8,496 acres, with an allocated budget of 1.8 billion rupees. So far, 1.085 billion rupees have been spent, covering 60% of the target. During the upcoming spring season, an additional 5.966 million trees will be planted over 6,637 acres at various locations, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, and Murree.
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The project features a diverse range of tree species, including Moringa, Pine, Neem, Acacia, and fruit-bearing varieties. These will not only help reduce air pollution but also enhance the natural beauty of Punjab’s landscape. The government plans to green forests, riverbanks, roadsides, and desert areas, with over 2.73 million saplings already planted on 4,000 acres.
In addition, the Punjab government is establishing Parks and Horticulture Authorities (PHA) at the district level. These bodies will focus on eradicating smog pollution, renovating existing parks, and constructing new ones to further contribute to the “Green Punjab” vision. PHAs will now operate independently of the Forest Department and district administrations, directly under the Punjab government.
Currently, PHAs are operational in ten divisional headquarters, including Lahore, Multan, and Faisalabad, overseeing the maintenance of over 900 parks and thousands of green belts across Punjab.
