LAHORE – Prime Minister Imran Khan inaugurated ‘the world’s biggest’ Miyawaki urban forest in provincial capital under Monsoon Plantation Campaign 2021. The urban forest has been developed on over 100 canals and has around 165,000 plants.
Reports in local media quoting sources said the initiative is a part of PTI’s Billion Tree Tsunami project under which the Prime Minister has promised to plant 10 billion plants across Pakistan.
Meanwhile, the selection of Japanese-style Miyawaki plantation uses specialized land preparation as well as indigenous varieties with 10 times quicker outcomes than in a normal forest.
As part of Monsoon Plantation Campaign 2021, PM @ImranKhanPTI Inaugurated World's large #Miyawaki Urban Forest at Saggian, Lahore.
With far-reaching environmental benefits, the forest expands over an area of 100 kanal, where 1,60,000 trees will be planted.#CleanGreenPunjab pic.twitter.com/fhY86lKJFS— Ministry of Climate Change, Govt of Pakistan (@ClimateChangePK) August 9, 2021
Prime Minister, who arrived in Lahore on a short visit, also spoke with newsmen on the occasion. “Miyawaki forests absorb the most carbon and are good for ensuring a suitable atmosphere and reducing pollution, Khan said while remembering old days when he used to live in the country’s cultural capital. “This was the Lahore where we grew up, a place full of greenery and fresh air but now, it has turned into the most polluted city of the country”, he said while expressing hope for good days. “I am glad that this is the beginning of growing the largest forest in the world. We dedicate this initiative to Profesor Miyawaki, who was the founder of this forestation technique.”
وزیراعظم عمران خان کا سگیاں میں دنیا کے سب سے بڑے میاواکی جنگل کی افتتاحی تقریب سے خطاب#Plant4Pakistan21#CleanGreenPunjab pic.twitter.com/bzUXefPvYk
— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) August 9, 2021
“We will try our best to leave a better Pakistan for the coming generations, Khan said while urging all citizens to grow at least one tree and nourish it regularly afterward.
Lamenting at the past, PM said “a mere 640 million trees were planted across Pakistan since independence till 2013”. Comparing PTI’s initiative, he said we have planted one billion trees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone, and we aim to plant 10 billion trees now.
Meanwhile, 53 more Miyawaki forests are being developed across Lahore to create sinks for carbon as well as for better pollution abatement in the city.
In February, Khan rolled out the Spring Tree Plantation Campaign 2021 and inaugurated Islamabad’s first-ever Miyawaki forest. PM reiterated that Pakistan must achieve the target of planting 10 billion trees to protect future generations and play its due role in mitigating global warming. “We are among the 10 most vulnerable countries with regard to global warming,” Khan said while addressing a gathering related to Green Financing Innovations in the country’s federal capital.
Earlier in December last year, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore hiked to an alarming level owing to extremely high air pollution. Based on two air quality contributors, the highest recording of 615 AQI was reported which was termed ‘hazardous’ by the health officials.
