GUJRANWALA: Over 50,000 saplings were planted within a minute today (Thursday) during a record-breaking plantation drive led by Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam in Gujranwala.
According to details, almost 12,500 students planted over 50,000 plants on an area between Rawalpindi bypass and Chand Ka Qila bypass after sirens were played. As many as 47 drone cameras recorded the activity.
Speaking on the occasion, Malik Amin said 52,040 plants had been planted in the presence of representatives of the Guinness World Records, which bettered an Indian record of planting 37,000 trees. Previously, Bhutan, in 2015, had set the world record of planting 49,672 saplings.
He further said that it was even better as the boys and girls had achieved the world record of planting 52,040 plants in a minute, adding that the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) Gujranwala would take care of the plants till they grow into trees.
“The people of Gujranwala have given a gift to the country on the 74th Independence day with a message to the country that 14th August should be commemorated as Green Pakistan Day and everyone should plant at least one plant on the day,” he added.
Elaborating Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision to turn Pakistan green, the SAPM said planting trees is in line with the Sunnah of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAWW), adding that Pakistan was also one of the countries which had been hit hard by climate change.
“Pakistan is leading tree plantation drive in the world while people of Gujranwala are leading the country-wide drive,” Amin Aslam said. The SAPM said these plants would not only fight global warming but also defeat ignorance of the political rivals in Gujranwala.
Referring to the PML-N’s 10-year rule in Punjab, he said it was the same political party that let 70% of the green cover of Lahore erode in only 10 years, adding that the historic city was once known to the world as the ‘City of Gardens”.
He was accompanied by Federal Parliamentary Secretary on Climate Change Rukhsana Naveed, Commissioner Gujranwala Division Zulfiqar Ahmed Ghumman, Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Sohail Khwaja, Chairman PHA Gujranwala S A Hameed, and Coordinator Punjab Clean and Green Program Amir Majeed.
