ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) planted more than 150,000 saplings during the ongoing tree plantation campaign in the federal capital and its surrounding areas with the help of residents in last two weeks, said a CDA official.
“The campaign is fully underway on the directives of Chairman CDA Noor ul Amin Mengal and children were engaged in planting saplings in different parks and free-of-cost fruit trees were also being distributed among citizens,” an official told APP here Sunday.
CDA aims to plant 500,000 plants this spring
The official said that the CDA chief has given a target to concerned officials to plant around 500,000 saplings during the ongoing spring season and the plantation drive had already started at the F-9 Park in Islamabad.
The official said that the Authority was also involving children to make the campaign a success, adding that the CDA, the private sector, and civil society had an important role in this regard.
He said that last year CDA’s Environment Wing planted 250,000 plants and this year the target is double that.
The official said fruit plants, such as peaches, apricots, pomegranates, and other fruit saplings that are compatible with the local climate and environment, were being distributed among citizens to be planted in their homes.
He said that 5,000 plants had been distributed free of cost during the week and about 20,000 plants will be distributed in the next 15 days.
The official further said the authority has also decided to increase the city’s green cover by planting saplings on land, worth billions of rupees, that was recovered from illegal occupants during the anti-encroachment drive.
The official said CDA would carry out a comprehensive drive to prevent re-encroachment of retrieved land and increase green spaces across the capital.
He added Islamabad was the only city in the world developed on the concept of green city and “the CDA was taking concrete measures to conserve and enhance its green character.”
—APP
