Pakistan Lags Behind Neighbourhood In Forest Coverage: ACS

MUZAFFARGARH, (Muzaffargarh.City – 9th Mar, 2023 ) :Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) South Punjab, Saqib Zafar, said that Pakistan was lagging behind its neighbouring countries Bhutan and India in coverage of forests as only 5 percent of its area was covered by jungles.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the spring plantation campaign at Kotla Saadat on Thursday Muzzaffargarh, he informed that according to the global standard, 25 percent of the area of any country should be covered by forests, but contrarily to it only 5 percent land of Pakistan is covered by forests, while in our neighborhood, 60 pc of Bhutan and 33 pc of the area in India are covered by forests The ACS stated that due to the global warming caused by deforestation, the entire mankind was facing serious threats and Pakistan was under the adverse effects of climate change.

Mr Zafar said forests have a central position in the fight against climate change and for the survival of our future generation, it is necessary to plant forests on maximum area.

He directed all the administrative departments of South Punjab to actively participated in the plantation campaign to make it a success.

He also commended the efforts of the Forestry Department regarding the plantation campaign.

Earlier, he formally launched spring plantation drive by planting a mango sapling at Kotla Saddat, Muzaffargarh.

The target of planting over 8.3 million saplings has been set for this campaign. Secretary Forests, Wildlife and Fisheries Sarfaraz Khan Magsi and Deputy Commissioner Muzaffargarh Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi, Chief Conservator Forest South Punjab Javed Gill and other officers were also present on this occasion.

Mr Magsi, while addressing the ceremony, said of over 2.2 mln have been planted so far adding that in the last three years, 8 crore 45 lakh saplings have been planted in South Punjab.

He stated that the Forest Department would also plant mango trees on 10 acres of land in Kotla Sadaat.

Later, Forest Secretary Sarfraz Khan Magsi and Deputy Commissioner Muzaffargarh Agha� Zaheer Abbas Shirazi also planted saplings.