PRIME Minister Imran Khan’s tree plantation drive, which is essential for protecting the environment, is indeed commendable. Civil society and conscientious members of every political party should support this noble cause.

Such tree plantation drives will achieve their optimum objective after at least five years when these trees grow to an appreciable age and will contribute to maintain vital echo balance.

However, this noble campaign will fail to achieve desired objectives if simultaneously fully grown and developed forests spread over thousands of acres are not saved from destruction as they are being destroyed by the land mafia and converted into concrete jungles.

The quality of air which envelops most of our cities has already deteriorated to a level which is unsafe for human beings and wildlife. Landslides have increased in hilly areas because of reckless, unchecked cutting of trees.

This insatiable greed of a few powerful individuals and groups poses threat to the health of millions of innocent citizens.

The prime minister should initiate action against all those involved in illegal occupation of forest land. The state must use its writ to take over this precious land irrespective of technicalities like third party interest, because nobody has power vested in him, including the office of prime minister, chief minister, etc., to allow occupation of forest lands and amenity parks.

The state failed to protect Kidney Hill Park in Karachi from evil designs of the land mafia, and today Karachi has become a city where even vital nullahs have fallen prey and been occupied by the land mafia in connivance with corrupt officials.

Unless exemplary punishment is given to criminals who benefitted from such illegal activities, there will be no end to this.

Pro Bono Publico
Lahore

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2020