ICT to plant 100,000 saplings in plantation drive
By Mona Khan

ISLAMABAD—Chief Commissioner, Islamabad Hamid Ali Khan inaugurated spring tree plantation drive in the rural areas of the federal capital by planting a sapling of olive at union council Sihala on Tuesday. The inaugural ceremony was attended by the local community, students, NGOs, officials of I.C.T administration and director (A.I.L) ICT Tariq Javed Malik.
While addressing the ceremony, the Chief Commissioner informed that the Agriculture Directorate of I.C.T Administration will plant over 100,000 saplings in the rural areas of Islamabad during current spring tree plantation drive. He told that 75,000 saplings have been cultivated and nurtured in the nurseries of I.C.T Agriculture directorate and 25,000 plants are being provided by the C.D.A and forest department, Rawalpindi. He stressed upon the citizens to proactively participate in the spring tree plantation drive that would also feature students, NGOs and local community. The Chief Commissioner told that special attention will be paid to protect the saplings planted during the current drive. Survival rate of plantation will be checked regularly with special prizes to be given to those responsible for their protection. “forests are depleting rapidly in our country which calls far urgent measures to increase the requisite area of forest, by planting maximum trees,” Khan said. He said that the agriculture department of ICT has made elaborate arrangement to provide the saplings to the farmers in each union council at cheaper rate.
Chief Commissioner told that the species to be planted during the on-going drive include olive, 15,000, shreen, 4,000, Dranta, 3,000, Kachnar, 4,000, Guava, 3,000, Jaman, 13,000, loquat, 13,000, sukhchain, 3,000, Arjan, 7,000, Annar, 10,000, Anjeev 22,000, Bottle Brush, 3,000, Villo, 6,000 Sheesham, 5,000, Fedal Wood, 6,000, Pine, 5,000 Amaltas, 8,000 Dhrek, 6,000, Grapes, 15,000 Savu 1,000. The Plantation areas are Rawat union council 25,00, Sihala, 4500 Koral, 6,000 Sohan 5,000, Tarlai 3,000, Kurri 4,000, Kirpa, 3500, Chivah 5,000 Tumair 4,000, Phulgran, 2500, Bhara Kau, 4500, and Shah Allah Dilta 4,000 sapling will be planted.