KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated a tree plantation drive by planting a sapling at YMC ground and said that 52 million saplings would be planted the current sprint season.

He was accompanied by Minister Forest Taimore Talpur, Minister energy Imtiaz Shaikh, Advisor for Prisons Aijaz Jakhrani, Those who were present there include Secretary Forest Dr Badar Jameel Mendhro, Chief Conservator Ayaz Maher and others. The chief minister said that during the current sprint season 52 million seedlings would be planted, of them 40 million inside forests and 12 million outside forests.

Mr Shah said that 428450 plants have been planted in the city, including 369,050 urban forest, 39600 roadside and 19800 clandestine. He added that these plants have been planted at M9 Motorway, Saeedabad PTS, Razzakabad PTS, Shah Faisal Colony, Dewan cement Factory, Lyari River, Bibi Shaheed Park, Navy Training School and Bin Qasim.

Mangrove Planting is a success story in Sindh, Mr Shah said and added during last 10 years. About 135,000 hectares have been planted in the Indus Delta. Besides, about 100,000 hectares of mature trees are also protected. “In this way, about 2.35 billion plants have been planted and protected during the last 10 years.

The CM said that under the 10 billion Tree Tsunami project, Sindh has contributed 33 percent that comes to 333 million plants towards the first billion trees planted during 2019-20. “Sindh’s contribution towards the 2nd billion is about 40 percent that comes to 400 million trees which will be achieved by June, 2022,” the CM said and added that this fact has been admitted by the federal government as well.

Minister Forest Taimore Talpur told the media that the overall cost of planting and protection in Sindh was less than all provinces which was Rs. 05 per plant [in Sindh] while it was Rs. 26 in Punjab, Rs. 33 in KPK and Rs. 100 in Balochistan.