ISLAMABAD, Apr 15 (APP):Pakistan Navy (PN) in line with the government’s vision of “Clean and Green Pakistan” Monday launched “Pakistan Navy Mangroves Plantation Campaign 2019” being fourth in the series to plant about two million mangroves in the coastal areas of Sindh and Balochistan.
Commander Coast, Vice Admiral Fayyaz Gillani was the Chief Guest at the ceremony who inaugurated the plantation campaign by planting mangrove saplings at Port Bin Qasim area, a news release issued by Director General Public Relations (PN) said.
Speaking on the occasion, Vice Admiral Fayyaz Gillani highlighted that Mangroves Plantation Campaign offered a tremendous opportunity to strengthen our unique relationship with nature.
“Mangroves have been instrumental in fending-off adverse effects of coastal hazards spurred by the climatic changes. As a national responsibility for contribution towards a healthy environment and being a major stakeholder for the protection of maritime domain, Pakistan Navy has embarked upon a major initiative to preserve and revive mangroves forests all along the coastal belt. Pakistan Navy has planted over Four Million Mangroves in the coastal belt of Sindh and Balochistan during the last three years,” Vice Admiral Fayyaz Gillani added.
He mentioned that deforestation of mangroves had not only distorted the biodiversity of our coastal areas but had also adversely affected the livelihoods of coastal communities.
“It is, therefore, imperative to forestall deforestation through integrated institutionalized measures to ensure sustainable development,” the Vice Admiral said.
He underscored that this plantation campaign was being launched with the expectation that it would not only increase the mangroves forest cover but would also play a key role in creating awareness among the masses on the importance of mangroves preservation and revival.
Vice Admiral Fayyaz Gillani urged the federal and provincial departments, industrial community and individuals to join hands with Pakistan Navy in this noble cause of protecting marine ecology.
He emphasized that the whole nation should stand united in its resolve to make this Mangroves Plantation Campaign a success and preserve this precious gift of nature for sustainable development of our today and especially for our future generations.
The ceremony was attended by Mahmood Akhtar Cheema Country Representative of International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and a large number of senior military and civil officials including World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Fishery Folk society and officials from Forest Departments.
Pakistan Navy in tandem with the Government’s initiative of ‘Clean and Green Pakistan’ has been vigorously pursuing its resolve to make country’s landscape teeming with green cover. Current mangroves plantation campaign is one of the many initiatives taken by Pakistan Navy to preserve and revive country’s flora.
