DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan on Monday launched plantation drive in Dera Ismail Khan (DI Khan) pledging to plant more than one billion trees in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa.
Khan said as many as 100 million trees have been planted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so far, adding that the target to plant 1 billion trees will be achieved in 5 years.
The PTI chief inaugurated the plantation drive by planting the first tree in the city. Talking to the media on this occasion, he said Pakistan is among the most countries most affected by global warming.
PTI chief said melting of glaciers results in rising of temperature, adding that the locals will benefit from the forestation. The PTI chief also freed eagles for blessings.
Imran Khan had launched the province-wide plantation drive in February this year from Haripur district.
“We need to leave a better Pakistan for our future generations and the campaign to save our forests begins from KPK,” he had said earlier this year.
He said the authorities will have local security teams and volunteers deployed to protect our forests and nurseries.
Those who cut down trees illegally will be fined heavily, the PTI chief said.
“We have announced jihad against the timber mafia. Prominent politicians and official of the forest department were involved in this. We will amend the law to take stern action against them,” he said.
He urged other provinces to support the tree plantation campaign and commence it in every party of the country.
Khan said 4% of Pakistan is covered by forests but this number should be at 30%.