GUJRAT: As many as 5,000 tree saplings were planted in Dhool forest area on Monday by the students and officials of various government departments as the local administration observed “April Cool Day” in connection with the spring tree plantation campaign 2019 and Green Gujrat Programme.

The initiative was launched at a ceremony in Dhool forest area located on the city outskirts where the deputy commissioner inaugurated the drive by planting an Erithia plant followed. Later, some 5,000 saplings were planted by the district heads of various government departments, other officials, as well as the students of the Government Boys School, Dhool Khurd.

In March 2019, at least 10,300 saplings were planted in the same area in the first phase of the campaign, the officials claimed.

On the occasion, the DC told Dawn that the administration had chalked out a strategy to make the drive successful by achieving the target of planting at least 232,000 saplings across the district wherein some 42,000 would be planted by various government departments. The education department would be given 20,000 saplings and health authorities 5,000 as part of the campaign, he added.

He said 40,000 saplings had been supplied free of cost to the armed forces, especially 37 Div Kharian and 333 Brigade, Jalalpur Jattan Cantonment, whereas at least 100,000 would be sold to the public at the rate of Rs8 per sapling.

As many as12,075 earthen pots had already been distributed free of cost from Feb 6 to 15 under the ‘Plant for Pakistan Programme’ for planting saplings, he added.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2019