KARACHI: The provincial minister for Women’s Development Syeda Shehla Raza has said that the extensive tree plantation drives were essential to prevent environmental pollution and reduce the temperature in the country.
Shehla Raza mentioned that the provincial government is working on various projects to make the environment greener in all cities across Sindh. She observed that awareness is essential to promote tree plantation campaigns for which universities can do their best.
The provincial minister was addressing after planting a sapling at the Center of Excellence for the Women Studies University of Karachi. She also inaugurated KU’s Clean and Green Campus: Second Plantation Drive 2021 on Friday.
She said, “I am happy that the University of Karachi is playing its role in this regard. I am also very happy to see the trend of tree planting among the students on the campus,” Shehla added.
Shehla Raza believed that KU’s students, who come from different parts of the city, could play an important role in spreading awareness regarding the need for a clean and green environment and how plantation drives could help in achieving the goal.
She said that if youngsters come forward and help the governments and non-governmental organizations in making the country clean and green then we could easily fulfill the dream of a green and clean province.
She observed that to make the tree plantation drives campaign a success, it is important that we all, as responsible citizens, participate in it. On this occasion, Shehla Raza also lauded the regular tree plantation campaigns at the University of Karachi.
Meanwhile, the KU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi said that the for past many years, Karachi has been transformed into a ‘jungle of concrete structure’ and facing severe environmental issues and all this is happening due to the lack of presence of plants and trees in the city.
“We are also witnessing that the temperature is gradually rising which is a matter of serious concern,” he mentioned. He said that rather than encouraging concrete cities, we should encourage a clean and green environment.
Dr Khalid Mahmood shared that the University of Karachi is regularly arranging tree plantation campaigns and also taking good care of plants and trees on the campus.
“We organize tree plantation drives every year and thousands of saplings have so far been planted in various locations of the campus,” he said.
The KU VC Professor Dr Khalid Iraqi advised that to see plants transforming into trees, we all need to play our part and raise awareness in this regard for which schools, colleges, and universities are the best platforms. The tree plantation campaigns need to be run as a whole, not on an institutional basis.
Later, the Director Center of Excellence for Women Studies Professor Dr Nasreen Aslam Shah said, “The trend of tree plantation is increasing among the students which are essential for a clean and green campus.”
