PESHAWAR, Dec 31 (APP):Provincial Minister for Environment, Forests and Wildlife, Syed Ishtiaq Umar here on Monday said surrounding mountains near Peshawar were identified for new plantations would add beauty of the Walled City besides counterbalancing effects of climate change and global warming in the region.
“Forest Department will carry out special plantation campaigns on barren ‘Basheywali Mountain near Hayatabad Peshawar under Billions Trees Afforstration Project (BTAP) to make it lush green besides making it a tourist resort to attract foreign and domestic tourists,” he told APP on Monday.
He said an inclusive strategy has been chalked out under which soil would be
thrown and spread on the said mountain before afforestration.
Ishtiaq Umar said bringing all barren and rugged mountains of the merged tribal
districts under forestry cover was part of KP Govt plan and special focus would
be given to it under second phase of BTAP.
KP Government would also launch ‘Fruits for All Progam’ to create awareness about
importance of fruits for human’s health, he said.
First phase of ‘Fruits for All Program’ would be launched in upcoming spring season
from Peshawar, he informed.
He said around 1,75,000 fruits plants would be
distributed free of cost among farmers, general public and government departments in
Peshawar. It will be planted in posh areas of Hayatabad, Regi Lalama Township,
Defense Colony, University Town and Motorway.
“It is a three years project and later would be expanded
to other cities,” he said adding, all stakeholders including agriculturists,
foresters, Govt officials, general public, NGOs, students, academicians, politicians,
growers and LG representatives would involve to make this program a success.
The Minister said Government has chalked out a comprehensive
mechanism to plant additional one billion saplings of different species during
next five years in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
“Massive afforstration campaign will be launched under BTAP
across the province fom January 15, 2019 for which all preparations were
completed,” he said.
BTAP are being extended to the merged tribal districts
where tribal elders, Maliks, tribesmen, NGOs, students, politicians, religious scholars,
Ulema Karam, civil society, Govt and semi govt organizations would be mobilized
to bringing maximum areas under plantations cover.
The Minister said KP Forest Department was ready to
provide technical assistance to all provinces including AJK and Gilgit Baltistan
under ‘Plant for Pakistan’ initiative of Prime Minister Imran Khan under which
10 billion saplings would be planted during next five years in the country.
“We had achieved significant experience under BTAP model
as it would not only help KP but other province and AJK as well to achieve set
targets under Plant for Pakistan,” he said.
He said Pakistan was gifted with different climates and
plantations in accordance to weather conditions and climates would play key
factors to make the national program a success.
